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#|      INDIAN    STORY.     •%&% 
^:g  X-SCf 

&-,  A  Tranilated  from  the  FRENCH  of  y  *$*  O 

J^X' J.  H.  B.  DH  ST.  PIERRE,  Author  of  <J4"^> 
*4^  6  the  Studies  of  Nature.  v  jSi.  v 

'•*••<;'  f":  V  '.A,'  :,: 


BY 


H.    KUNTER,    D.    2?. 


1?^.  •;)  ....  Miferis  fuccurrere  difro. 

xL.O  ^NKID,    LIB.    I. 
XX  :": 

',,A/  -:>  I  have  learned  to  fucccur  the  diitreficd. 


0  PRINTED  AT  WRENTH  AM,  (Maff.)  > 

v  BY  NATHL.  AND  BENJ.  HEA<ION>  Q  $£.  )C 
X  ^FoR  E.  GOODALE,  MENBQ1J  ^  AND  v  -^  >  C 
;<  S.  WARRINER,  }UN.  WILBRAttAZt*  '' 


^    )> 

^ 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 


the  Eaftern  declivity  of  the 
mountain?  which  rifes  behind  Port-Louis,  in 
the  Ifle  of  France,  are  ilill  to  be  feen,  on  a 
fpot  of  ground  formerly  cultivated,  the  ruins 
of  two  little  cottages.  .^They  are  fituated  al- 
moft  in  the  middle  of  a  bafon,  formed  by  e- 
normous  rocks,  whkh  has  only  one  opening 
turned  toward  the  North.  .From  that  open 
ing,  you  perceive,  on  the  left,  the  mountain 
known  by  the  name  of  Mount  Difcoveryfr 
from  which  fignals  are  repeated,  of  veffels 
{leering  for  the  iiland ;  and,  at  the  bottom 
of  this  mountain,  the  city  of  Port-Louis  ; 
to  the  right,  the  road,  which  leads  from  Port- 
Louis  to  the  quarter  of  Pa'mplemoufles  ;  af 
terwards  the  church  of  that  name,  which 
rifes,  with  its  avenues  of  bamboos,  in  the  mid* 
die  of  a  great  plain  ;  and,  beyond  it,  a  forei^ 
which  extends  to  the  farthefl  extremities  of 
die  ifiand.  You  have,  in  front,  on  the  brink 
of  the  fea,  a  view  of  Tomb-Bay ;  a  little  to 
the  right,  Cape-Misfortune  ;  and  beyond 
that,  the  boundlefs  ocean,  in  which  appear 
A  % 


4  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

en  a  level  with  the' water's  ed^e,  forn:-  un. 
inhabited  little  Mis,  among  others,  Mire  -Point, 
•which  refemblss  a  baftioa  in  the  m'i.i  of 
the  waves. 

At  the  entrance  of  this  bafcn,  from  whence 
fo  many  obje&s  are  di  fling  uiihable,  the 
echoes  of  the  mountain  inceflantiy  repeat 
the  nolle  of  the  wind;,  which  agitate  die 
neighbouring  fore-its,  and  the  roaring  of  the 
hii!v.  K  ch  break  at  a  diilance,  upon  the 
fli  lilo-ws ;  but  at  the  very  foot  of  the  cot 
tages,  no  noife  is  any  longer  to  be  heard, 
and  nothing  to  be  feen  around,  except  great 
rocks,  as  deep  as  the  wall  of  a  houfe.  Tufts 
of  trees  grow  at  their  bafes,  in  their  clefts, 
and  up  to  their  very  fammits,  en  which  die 
clouds  fettle.  The  rains,  which  are  attracted 
by  their  peaks,  frequently  paint  the  colors 
ot  the  rainbow  on  their  green  and  dufky 
f.des,  and  conitantly  fupply,  at  the  bottom, 
the  fources  of  which  the  fmall  river  of  the 
Latiaiers  is  formed.  A  profound  illence 
reigns  through  this  enclofure,  where  all  is 
peace  ;  the  air,  the  waters,  and  the  light. 
Scarcely  does  the  echo  there  repeat  the  mur- 
nluring  found  of  the  palmifts,  which  grow 
on  their  elevated  ftalks,  and  whofe  lonj*  ar- 
rov^-formcd  branches  are  fecu  always  balanr 
ced  by  the  winds.  A  mild  light  illuminates 
the  cavity  of  this  bafcai,  into  which  the  rays 
of  the  fun  defcend  only  at  noon-day  ;  but, 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 


from  the  dawning  of  Aurora,  they  ftrike  upon 
the  brim  of  it,  tke  peaks  of  which,  riling 
above  the  fhadows  of  the  mountain,  prefent 
the  appearance  of  gold  and  purple  on  the 
azure  of  the  heavens. 

I  took  plcafure-  in  retiring  to  this  place, 
where  you  can  enjoy,  at  once,  an  unbounded 
profpect,  and  a  profound  fclitude.  One  day, 
as  I  was  fitting  by  the  platform  of  thefe  cot 
tages,  and  contemplating  their  ruins,  a  man 
con fider ably  advanced  into  the  vale  of  years, 
happened  to  pafs  that  way.  He  was  drefled, 
conformably  to  the  cuftom  of  the  ancient  in 
habitants,  in  a  fhcrt  jacket  and  long  trowfers. 
He  walked  barefooted,  and  fupported  him- 
felf  on  a  ftaff  of  ebony  wood.  His  hair  was 
completely  white,  his  phyfiognomy  fimple  and 
majeilic.  I  faluted  him  refpedtfuHy.  He 
returned  my  falute,  and  having  eyed  me  for  a 
moment,  he  approached,  and  fat  down  on 
the  hillock  where  I  had  taken  my  ftation* 
Encouraged  by  this  mark  of  confidence,  I 
took  the  liberty  of  addreiTmg  him  in  thefe 
words  :  "  Can  you  inform  me,  Father,  to 
whom  thefe  two  cottages  belonged  ?"  "  My 
fon,"  replied  he,  "  thefe  ruins,  and  that  now 
neglected  fpot  of  ground,  were  inhabited, 
about  twenty  years  ago,  by  two  families, 
which  there  found  the  means  of  happinefs. 
Their  hiftcry  is  affecting  :  but  in  this  ifland, 
fkuated  cr*  the  road  to  Injjia,  what  European 
A  3 


6  *AUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

Vv^.1  deign  to  take  an  mtereft  in  the  ckfliny 
of  a  few  cb: cure  individuals  ?  Nay,  \vho 
would  fubmit  to  live  here,  though  in  happineft 
and  concent,  if  poor  and  unknown  ?  Men 
are  detirous  of  knowing  only  the  hiilory  of 
'the  Great,  and  of  Kings,  v/hich  is  of  no  life 
to^aiiy  one."  "  Father,"  replied  I,  "  it  is 
ealy  to  difcern  from  your  air,  and  your  ftyle 
of  coriverfadon,  that  you  mull:  have  acquired 
very  extern! ve  'experience,  If  your  ieifure  per- 
xnits,  have  the goodnefs  to  relate  tome,  1  be- 
feech  you,  what  you  know  of  the  ancient  in 
habitants  of  tins  defcrt ;  and  be  ailured,  that 
there  is  no  man,  however  depraved  by  the 
prejudices  of  the  vrcrid,  but"  who  loves  to 
hear  of  the  felicity  which  nature  and  virtue 
beftow."  Upon  this,  like  one  who  is  trying 
to  recollect  certain  particular  c:rcumiV.inces, 
after  having  applied  his  hands  for  ibme  time 
to  his  forehead,  the  old  man  related  what 
fellows  : 

In  the  year  1726,  a  young  man  of  Nor- 
Ittandy,  called  De  la  Tour,  after  having  to 
no  purpofe,  folicited  employment  in  France, 
and  aiMance  from  his  family,  determined  to 
come  to  this  illand,  in  the  view  of  making 
his  fortune.  He  brought  alomr  with  him  a 
young  wife,  whom  he  pallionatety  loved,  and 
who  returned  his  aite^ion  with  mutual  ardcr. 
JBhe  was  defcended  from  an  ancient  and  opu 
lent  family  of  her  Province ;  but  he  hadmarried 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  / 

her  privately,  and  without  a  portion,  becaufe 
her  relations  oppofed  their  union,  on  account 
of  the  obfcurity  of  his  birth.  He  left  her  at 
Port-Louis,  in  this  ifland,  and  embarked  for 
Madagascar,  in  the  hope  of  there  purchafmg 
fome  negroes,  and  immediately  returning  to 
this  place,  for  the  purpofe  of  fixing  his  refi- 
dence  in  it.  He  difembarked  at  Madagafcar 
during  the  dangerous  feafon,  which  com 
mences  about  the  middle  of  October,  and, 
foon  after  his  arrival,  died  of  the  peitilentlal 
fever,  which  rages  there  for  fix  months  of  the 
year,  and  which  always  will  prevent  Euro 
pean  nations  from  forming  fettlements  on  that 
ifland. 

The  effects  which  he  had  carried  with  him 
were  embezzled  after  his  death,  as  generally 
happens  to  thofe  who  die  in  foreign  coun 
tries.  His  wife,  who  remained  in  the  IHe  of 
France,  found  herfelf  a  widow,  pregnant, 
and  defiitute  of  every  earthly  refource,  ex 
cept  a  negro  woman,  in  a  country  where  fhe 
was  entirely  unknown.  Being  unwilling  to 
foliek  aiiiitance  from  any  man,  after  the  death 
of  him,  who  was  the  fole  object  of  her  affec 
tion,  her  misfortunes  gave  her  courage.  She 
refolvecl  to  cultivate,  with  the  help  of  hrr  (lave, 
a  fmall  ijpot  of  ground,  in  order  to  procure 
the  msans  of  fubiiftence. 
r  fc  In  an  ifland  almoil  a  defcrt,  the  foil  of  which 
was  unappropriated,  (he  did  not  choofe  the 


1  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

moft  fertile  diftria  of  the  country,  nor  that 
which  was  the  moil  favorable  for  commerce  ; 
but  looking  about  for  feme  fequeflered  cove 
ot  the  mountain,  fome  hidden  afylum,  where 
ihe  might  live  fecluded  and  unknown,  fhe 
found  her  way  from  the  city  to  thefe  r-ck.c 
into  which  fhe  funk  as  into  a  neft.     It  is  an 
inftmdl  common  to  all  beings  poffeffcd  of  fen- 
libility,  under  preffure  of  calamity,  to  feek 
jnelter  in  places,  the  wildeft  and  the  moft  de- 
lerted  ;    as  if  rocks  were  bulwarks  againft 
misfortune,  or,  as  if  the  calmnefs  of  nature 
could  compofe  the  troubles  of  the  foul.    But 
Providence,  which  comes  to  our  relief,  when 
ve  aim  only  at  r.cceflary  comforts,  had  in 
/tore  for  Madame  de  la  Tour,  a  bleffing  which 
neither  riches  nor  grandeur  can  purchafe  ;v 
arid  that  bleffing  was  a  friend. 

In  this  place  for  a  year  pail,  had  refided, 
a  fprightly,  good,  and  feniible  woman,  called 
Margaret.  She  was  born  in  Brittany,  of  a 
plain  family  of  peafants,  by  whom  ihe  was 
beloved,  and  who  would  have  rendered  her 
happy,  had  fhe  not  been  weak  enough  to  re- 
pofe  confidence  in  the  profefficr.s  of  love,  by 
a  man  of  family  in  the  neighbourhood,  who 
had  promifed  to  marry  her  ;  but  who,  having 
gratified  his  paffion,  abandoned  her,  and  even 
rcfufed  to  fecure  to  her  the  means  of  fub- 
fiftence  for  die  child,  with  which  he  had  left 
her  pregnant.  She  immediately  refclvecl,  for 


PAUL  AND   VIRGINIA.  9 

ever  to  quit  the  village  where  fhe  was  born, 
and  to  conceal  her  fault  in  the  Colonies,  far 
iron;  her  country,  where  fhe  had  loit  the  on 
ly  dowry  of  a  poor  and  honed  young  woman, 
reputation.  An  old  black  fellow,  whom  (he 
had.  purchafed  with  a  poor  borrowed  purfe, 
cultivated,  with  her,  a  fmali  corner  of  this 
dillnd, 

Madame  dc  la  Tour,  attended  by'her  black 
•woman,  found  Margaret  in  this  place,  who 
was  fuckling  her  child.     She  was  delighted 
to  meet  with  a  female,  in  a  fituation  which 
fhe  accounted  fimllar  to  her  own.     She  un 
folded,  in  a  few  words,  her  former  condition, 
and  her  prefent  wants.     Margaret,  on  hear 
ing  Madame  de  la  Tour's  ftory,  was  moved 
xvith  compatlion,  and,  wilhing  to  merit  her 
confidence  rather  than  her  efteem,  Hie  confef- 
fed  to  her,  without  referve,  the  imprudence 
of  which  flie  had  been  guilty  :  "For  my 
part,"  faid  {he,  "  I  have  merited  my  delliny, 
but  you  Madam  -* ,  virtuous  and  unfor 
tunate  !  "     Here,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  fhe 
tendered  to  the  ftrangcr  the  accommodations 
of  her  cottage,  and  her  friendfnip.     Madame 
de  la  Tour,  deeply  affected  with  a  reception 
fo  tender,  folded  her  in  her  arms,  exclaiming, 
€t  I  fee  that  GOD  is  going  tc  put  an  cad  to  my 
fu.tTeri.ags,  fince  he  has  inipired  yon  with  fen- 
timents"  of  greater  kindneis  to  me,  an  entire 
ftrangcr,  than  I  ever  received  from  my  own 
relations*" 


xo  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

I  had  the  felicity  of  Margaret's  acquaint 
ance  ;  and  though  I  live  at  the  diftance  of  a 
league  and  a  half  from  hence,  in  the  woods, 
behind  the  long  mountain,  I  looked  upon 
myfelf  as  her  neighbour.  In  the  cities  of 
Europe,  a  fireet,  a  fimple  partition,  feparates 
the  members  of  the  fame  family  for  years ; 
but  in  the  new  Colonies,  we  coniider  as  neigh 
bours,  thofe  who  are  only  feparated  from  us 
by  woods  and  by  mountains.  At  that  time 
particularly,  \vhen  this  ifland  had  little  com 
merce  with  India,  neighbourhood  alone  was 
a  title  to  friendihip,  and  hofpitality  to  ftran- 
gers  was  confidered  as  a  duty,  and  a  plea£ 
ure. 

As  foon  as  I  learned  that  my  neighbour 
had  got  a  companion,  I  went  to  fee  her,  in 
order  to  offer  to  both  all  the  affiflance  in  my 
power.  I  found  in  Madame  de  la  Tour  a 
perfon  of  a  very  interefting  figure  ;  majeftic, 
and  melancholy.  She  was  then  very  near 
her  time.  I  faid  to  thefe  two  ladies,  that  it 
would  be  better,  for  the  fake  of  the  interefls 
of  their  children,  and  (especially  to  prevent 
the  eftablilliment  of  any  other  inhabitant,  to 
divide  between  them  the  territory  of  this 
bafon  which  contains  about  twenty  acres* 
They  entrufled  me  with  making  this  divifion; 
I  formed  it  into  two  portions,  nearly  equal. 
The  one  contained  the  upper  part  of  that 
enclofure?  from  yonder  point  of  the  rock, 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  !  xi 

covered  with  clouds,  from  whence  iifues  the 
fource  of  the  riiPer  cf  the  Lataniers,  to  that 
fteep  opening  which  you  fee  at  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  and  which  is  called  the  Embra- 
fure,  becaufe  it  actually  refembles  the  parapet 
of  a  battery.  The  bottom  of  this  fpot  of 
ground  is  fo  filled  with  rocks  and  gutters,  that 
it  is  fcarcely  pofuble  to  walk  along.  It,  never- 
thelefs,  produces  large  trees,  and  abounds 
with  fountains  and  little  rivulets.  In  the 
other  portion,  I  comprized  all  the  lower  part 
cf  the  enclofure,  which  extends  along  the 
river  of  the  Lataniers,  to  the  opening  where 
we  are,  from  whence  that  river  begins  to  flow 
between  two  hills  toward  the  fea.  You  there 
fee  fome  ftripes  of  meadow-ground,  and  a 
foil  tolerably  fmooth  and  level,  but  which  is 
very  little  better  than  the  other  ;  for  in  the 
rainy  feafon  it  is  marihy,  and  in  drought,  ftifF 
as  lead.  When  you  wifh,  in  that  cafe,  to 
open  a  trench,  you  are  obliged  to  cut  it  with 
the  hatchet. 

After  having  made  thefe  two  divifions,  I 
perfuaded  the  ladies  to  fettle  their  refpective 

reilions  by  cafting  lots.  The  upper  part 
jfejl  to  the  fhare  of  Madame  de  la  Tour,  and 
he  lower  to  Margaret.  They  were  both 
perfectly  fatisfied  ;  but  requeued  me  not  to 
feparate  their  habitation,  "in  order,J>  faid 
jhey  to  me,  "  that  we  may  always  have  it  in 
ur  power  to  fee,  to  converfe  withf  and  to 


I*  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

affift-  each  other/'  It  was  neceflary,  how- 
ever,  that  each  of  them  ftiould  have  a  fepa- 
rate  retreat.  The  cottage  of  Margaret  was 
built  in  the  middle  of  the  bafon,  exactly  up 
on  the  boundary  of  her  own  domain.  I 
built  clofe  to  it,  upon  that  of  Madame  de  la 
Tour's,  another  cottage  ;  Ib  that  thefe  two 
friends  were,  at  once,  in  the  vicinity  of  each 
other,  and  on  the  property  of  their  families, 
I  myfelf  cut  paliiadoes  in  the  mountain,  and 
brought  the  leaves  of  the  Lai  ante  r  from  the 
fea-fide,  to  conftrucl  thefe  two  cottages, 
which  now  no  longer  prefent  either  door  or 
a-oof.  Aias  !  there  ftill  remains  but  too 
much  for  my  recollection.  Time,  which 
deftroys,  w:.;-]i  fo  #mch  rapidity,  the  monu 
ments  of  cmriivs,  fei  11  s  to  "«?jbect,  in  thefe 
dcierts  thole  of  fri«;r  ' i  order  to  per 
petuate  my  aillidio.-.j  tc  ,:  iail  hour  of  my 
life. 

Scarcely  was    the  fee-  \  •.   cottaj'rs 

completed,  when  M  .  r    vyas 

I  had  been  L!IC  ecd^ 

h  '  .  :  called 

Paul,  :  .  i  me  to 

name  her  daughter  alfo,  in  conjunction  with 
her  friend,  who  gave  he .••  the  namtx-  of  Vir 
ginia.  4<  She  will  be  vinuous,"  fa  id  ilie, 
4i  and  flie  will  be  happy  .  I  knew  calamity 
only  ia  ceafing  !>o  be  virtuous." 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  XJ 

When  Madame  de  la  Tour  was  recovered 
of  her  lying  in,  thcfe  two  little  habitations 
began  to   wear    the  appearance  of  comfort, 
with  the  ail?,  (lance    of    the  labor,    which  I 
occafionally  beftowed  upon  them ;  but  par 
ticularly,  by  the    affiduous    labor    of   their" 
flaves:  that  of  Margaret,  called  'Domingo, 
was   an    lolof  black,    ilill   robuM,    though 
rather  advanced   in    life.     He  poflefied  the 
advantage  of  experience,  and  good   natural 
fcnie.     He-  cultivated,  without  diilinftion,  on 
J£e  two  diitri&s,  the  (oil,  which  appeared  to 
i.im  the  moll  fertile,  and  there  he  lowed  the 
feeds,   which  he  thought  would    thrive  the 
beii  in.  it.     He  fo\ved  fmall  millet  and  Indian 
corn,  in  places,  where  the  foil  was  of  an  in 
ferior  quality,  and  a  little  wheat,  where  the 
ground  was    good.     In  marihy   places,  he 
[owed  rice,    and  at  the    foot  of    the    rocks, 
were  raifed  glrau:?ionts^  gourds,  and  cucum 
bers,    which   delight   in  climbing  up    their 
tides :    in    dry   places  he    planted  potatoes, 
which  there  acquire  dngular  fweetnefs.  ;  cot 
ton-trees  on  heights,  and  fugar-canes  on  ftrong 
laud  ;  coffee  plants  on  the  hills,  where  their 
grains  arc  fmall,  but  of  an   excellent  quali 
ty  ;    along  the  river,  and  around  the  cotta 
ges,  he  planted  bananas,  which,  all  the  year 
round,  produce  large  firings  of  fruit,  and 
form  a  beautiful  flicker  ;    and,  in  a  word, 
feme  plants  of  tobacco,  to  foothe  his  owa 
B 


,14  „    PAUL  AND  VIRGIN 

cares,  ar.d  thofe  of  his  or  ~'J  rni. '!:••.;  iTes.     He 
•it  to  cut  wood for  :  .:• '  in'the  mountain, 
and  broke  down    pit',  ).,   htie    and 

there,  in  the  plantar  :  hc'rcadr, 

He  pel  for nu  r    intelli 

gence  and  activity  '  .  -iem 

with  zeaL  He  was  very  rr.urh  attached  to 
Margaret,  ar.d  not  much  Icfs  fo  to  Mad  a  me 
de  la  Tour,  whofe  Have  he  had  r:  it  tlie 

birth  of  Virgmia.  !Je  rafiior.r.t^lv  kved 
his  wife,  v.-hofe- r^.rre  -y.  She  was 

a  ''native  of  Mac! ;  hence  Hie  had 

brought  fo  me  dq;  .ihirly  the 

art  ot  niaki:\g  bail:c'?:,  and  1  -L\p^?-cs9 

with  the  grais  which-  to-owr  m  the  woods. 
She  was  clever,  cleanly,  and,  vlial  was  above 
all,  incormptibly  faitlrftil.  Her  employ - 
rnent  was  to  prepare  the  vicluals,  to  lake 
care  of  feme  poultry,  ui>d  to  go  occailonal- 
ly  to  Port-I-ouis,  to  fell  the  fuperfluity  of  the 
two  plantations  ;  this,  however,  was  very 
inconiideiable.  Jf  to  thtfe,  you  add  tvo 
goats,  brought  up  with  the  children,  ?r.d  z 
great  dog,  that  watched  the  dwellings  c;uiirg 
the  night,  you  will  Lave  an  idea  oi  r-.ii  the 
poffeflions,  and  of  all  the  dcrr.eftic  econ.  . 
of  thefe  two  little  farms.  As  for  the  two 
friends,  they  fpun  cotton  from  iron. 
till  night.  This  employ  IT?  rut  was  fufticicnt 
to  maintain  themfelves  and  their  families  ; 
But)  ip  other  refpecls,  they  were  fo  ill  -pre- 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  15 

vided  with  foreign  commodities,  that  they 
walked  bare-footed  when  at  home,  and  never 
wore  (hoes  except  on  Sundays,  when  they 
went  to  mafs,  early  in  the  morning,  to  the 
church  of  Pamplemouifes,  which  you  fee  in 
the  bottom.  It  is,  neve'rthelefs,  much  far 
ther  than  to  Port-Louis  ;  bat  they  feldom 
viiir.cd  the  city,  for  fear  of  being  treated  with 
contempt,  becaufc  they  were  dveiied  in  tBe 
coarfe  blue  Himeu  cloth  oJ  .1,  which  is 

worn  by  flaves. 

After  all,  is   puUic  je^ecl^iHcT   balfib 
valuable  as  domeitic  :    If  theJe  ladies 

were  expoied  to  a  lit  ;•  \vheh    a- 

broad,  they  returned    home    with   fo  much 
more  additional  fatisf action.     No  fooner  had 
Mary    and  Domingo    perceived  them  from 
this   eminence,   on  the   road  from   PampSe- 
mou/Tcs,  than  they  fiew  to  the  bottom  of  the 
mountain,  in    order  to  afiUfc    them     in    re- 
afccnding  it.     They  read,  hi  the  eyes  of  their 
f!aves,the  joy,  which  they  felt  at  feeing  them 
again.      They    found,   in    their  habitation, 
cleammefs  and  freedom  5  blefiings,  \vhich  they 
owed  entirely  to  their  own  inuuitiv,  and  fer- 
vants  animated  with  zea' 
for  thcinfelves|  united  by   tl 
haviiigexperleht 
to  each  other    tl 
companioil 

.  .    .'.  .-;  table. 


ft  PAUL  AK*  VIRGINIA. 

ry  thing  in  common.  And  if  it  fometimei 
happened,  that  former  ftjr.timcnts,  more  ar 
dent  than  tV-1  of  frieiKltlim>  were  re-kindled 
in  their  bofcrn^  a  pure  and  undctiled  reli 
gion,  ailifted  by  chaise  manners,  dire  fled 
id.-.  :ii  toward  another  life,  like  trie  flame 
v.hicli  files  off  to  heaven,  when  it  <;•;•  if.:-.;  to 
find  nourilhinent  on  the  cGith, 

The  duties  of  nature  were  rJ!I  an  addition 
al  fource  pfhappinefs  to  rheir  iociety.  1'hcir 
mutual  friendihip,  redoubled  at  the  fight  of 
their  children,  the  fruits  of  a  love  equally 
Unfortunate,  They  toor  10  put  them 

into  the  fame  bath,  and  to  lay  them  to  llecp 
in  the  fame  cradle.  They  frequently  ex 
changed  their  milk  to  die  children  ;  "  My 
friend,"  laid  Madame  de  la  Tour,  "  each  of 
u:  will  h'lve  t\vo  children,  and  each  of  our 
children  will  have  two  mothers."  Like  t.v.*o 
buds  which  remain  upon  tv.n  trees  v/f  the 
fame  ipecies,  :il\  the  bran  which  liave 

been  broken  Ly  the  tempeftj  produce  j raits 
more  delicious,  if  each  of  them,  detached 
from  the  maternal  iteck,  i«  grafted  on  the 
neighbouring^  (tern  ;  thus  iheie  two  little 
children;  deprived  of  their  relations,  \v-  re 
filled  \vith  fentiinetlts,  toward  each  ,otherv 
morv.  '  "-f  fan  rind  daugh.ter^ 

cf  brother  .     .1,  \v3ien  they  were  exchan- 

it  the  brcaft  by  the  twc  friends,  who  hid 
*;  them  being.     Already  their  nr 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  x? 

talked  of  their  marriage,  though  they  were 
yet  in  the  cradle,  and  this  proipecl  of  con 
jugal,  felicity,  with  \vhich  they  foothed  their 
own  woes  to  peace,  frequently  terminated  in 
a  Hood  of  tears  ;  the  one,  recollecting  the 
zniieries,  which  Ihe  had  fuffered  from  having 
neglected  the  forms  of  marriage,  and  the 
other,  from  having  fubmitted  to  its  laws  ; 
the  one,  from  having  been  railed  above  her 
condition;  and  the  other,  from  having  de£ 
cended  below  hers  ;  but  they  confoled  thern- 
felves  with  the  thought  that  the  day  would 
come,  when  their  children,  more  fortunate 
than  themfelves,  would  enjoy,  at  once,  far 
from  the  cruel  idices  o  ,  the 

pleafures  of  lov  ; ,        .    .      .  fs  of  equal 

ity. 

Nothing,  indeed,  was  to  be  compared  with 
tlit;  attachment,  which  the  babes  already  te£ 
titled  for  each  odier:  if  lau^  happened  to 
complain,  they  Virginia  to  him  ;  at 

the  fight  of  her,  he  ir-iik-d  and  was  pacifi 
ed.  If  Virginia  fullered,  you  were,  inform 
ed  of  it  by  r he  1;  /  Paul ;  but  this 
amiable  childimi  ,-d  her  pain 
that  her  fuiterin^s  mi;^;i;f:  not  diicrefs  him*  1 
never  arriwrd  here,  that  I  did  not  fee  them 
both,-  .  :  pording  to  the  cuftom 
of  th-  :  "to  walk,  hold 
ing  each  <•;:'•  :T  by  •  v.  h  '  uncler  the 
arms,  <&  tlu:  conil  •;  ,  ;  ,;•, 


*S  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

prefented.  Night  itfelf  had  not  the  por-  ^r 
of  feparating  them  ;  it  frequently  furprifed 
them,  kid  in  the  fame  cradle,/ cheek  joined  to 
cheek,  bofom  tu  hoforn,  their  hands  mutually 
palled  around  each  other's  neck,  and  afieep 
in  one  another's  arms, 

V, "hen  they  were  able  to  fpeak,  the  firfl 
names  which  they  learned  to  pronounce  were 
thofe  of  brother  and  filler.  Infancy,  which 
beftows  careiles  more  tender,  knows  of  no 
names  more  fwcet.  Their  education  only 
ferved  to  redouble  their  frierdfhlp,  by  direct 
ing  it  toward  their  reciprocal  wants.  Very 
loon,  every  thing,  that  concerned  domestic 
economy,  cleanlinefs,  the  care  of  preparing 
a  rural  repaft,  became  the  province  of  Vir 
ginia,  and  her  labors  were  :?.Jways  followed 
by  the  pra'fef,  and  careiles  of  Paul.  As  for 
him,  ever  in  motion,  he  digged  in  the  garden 
with  Domingo,  or  wiih  a  little  hatcher,  in 
his  hand  followed  him  into  the  woods  ;  and 
If,  in  thefe  rambles,  a  beautiful  flower,  a  de 
licious  fruit,  or  a  neft  of  birds,  came  hi  his 
way,  though  at  the  top  of  the  higheft  tree, 
he  fcaled  it,  to  bring  them  to  his  fitter. 

When  you  chanced  to  meet  the  one  of 
them,  you  might  be  certain  the  other  was 
nor;  far  off.  One  day  that  I  wis  defcend- 
ing  from  the  fmnmit  of  this  mountain,  I 
perceived  Virginia  at  the  extremity  of  the 
>  'flie  was  running  toward  the  houfe, 


PAUL  AN»  VIRGINIA.  !   2? 

her  head  covered  with  her  petticoat,  which 
{he  had  railed  behind,  to  ihelter  her  from  a 
deluge  of  rain.  At  a  diftance,  I  thought 
iLe  had  been  alone  ;  and  having  advanced, 
in  order  to  adiit  her,  I  perceived  that  ihe  held 
Paul  by  the  arm,  who  was  almoft  enveloped 
HI  ihe  fame  covering  j  both  of  diem,  delight 
ed  at  finding  themfelves  iheltered  together 
tinder  an  un:brell-i  of  their  own  invention. 
Thefe  two  charming  heads,  wrapped  up  in 
the  fwelling  petticoat,  reminded  me  of  the 
children  of  r.Leda,  enclofed  in  the  fame  fheli. 

All  their  fludy  was  to  pleafe,  and  to  ailHt 
each  other  ;  in  every  other  refpecl,  they  were 
as  ignorant  as  Creoles,  and  neither  knew  how 
to  read  or  write.  They  did  not  diilurb 
diem  (elves  about:  what  had  happened  in  for 
mer  times,  and  at  a  diftance  from  them  ;  their 
euriouty  did  not  extend  beyond  that  moun 
tain.  They  believed  that  the  world  ended  at 
the  extremity  of  their  iiland,  and  they  could  not 
f>rm  an  idea  of  any  thing  beautiful  where 
rhev  were  not.  Their  mutual  affection,  and 

i!  b$  their  -mothers,  engaged  every  feeling 
•  .-ir  hearts  :  never  had  ufelcfs  fcience 
caufed  their  tears  to  flow  :  never  had  the 
k'Tbns  of  a  glooray-  morality  pppreffed  them 
with  langoun  They  knew  not  that  it  was 
lfctla>vful  to  fteal,  every  thing  with  them  be« 
^ig  in  common  ;  nor  to  bo  intemperate,  hav 
ing  always  at  command*  pkaty  of  " 


30  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

food  ;  nor  to  utter  falsehood,  having  no  trains 
that  it  was  neceffary  to  conceal.  They  had 
never  been  terrified  with  the  idea,  that  GOD 
has  in  referve  dreadful  puniihments  for  un 
grateful  children  ;  with  them,  filial  duty  was 
born  of  maternal  affeclion  :  they  had  been 
taught  no  other  religion  than  that  which  in 
drafts  us  to  love  one  another ;  and,  if  they 
did  not  offer  up  long  prayers  at  church* 
wherever  they  were,  in  the  houfe,  in  the  fields, 
or  ia  the  woods,  they  raifed  toward  heaven 
innocent  hards  and  pure  hearts,  filled  with 
the  love  of  their  parent?. 

Thus  paiTed  their  early  infancy,  like  a 
beautiful  dawn,  which  fecms  to  promife  a 
ftill  more  beautiful  day.  They,  already,  di 
vided  witli  their  mothers  the  cares  of  the 
houfehold:  as  foon  as  the  crowing  of  the  cock 
announced  the  return  of  Aurora,  Virginia 
rofe,  went  to  draw  water  at  a  neighbouring 
fountain)  and  returned  to  the  houfe  tfc>  pre 
pare  breakfaft ;  foon  after,  when  the  fun  had 
gilded  the  peaks  of  that  enclofure,  Margaret 
and  her  ion  went  to  the  dwelling  of  Madame 
;k  la  Tour,  where  they  immediately  began  a 
prayer,  which  was  followed  by  their  firil  re- 
;rait ;  this  they  frequently  partook  of,  before 
the  door,  feated  on  the  grafs,  under  a  bower 
fiirniihed  them,  at  the 
dy  prepared  food,  iu  their 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  sr 

fubffontlal  fruit,  and  table  linen  in  their  long 
and  glittering  leaves. 

Wholcibme  and  plentiful  nourifhment  rap 
idly  expanded  the  bodies  of  thefe  young  peo 
ple,  and  a  mild  education  painted  in  their 
phyiiognomies,  the  purity  and  contentment  of 
their  fouls.  Virginia  was  only  twelve  years 
old  ;  already  her  perfon  was  more  than  half 
formed  ;  a  large  quantity  of  beautiful  flaxen 
hair  ornam-:: ate d  her  head  ;  her  blue  eyes  and 
coral  lips  fhone,  with  the  mildeft  ludre,  on 
the  bloom  of  her  countenance  :  they  always 
felled  in  concert  when  me  fpoke  ;  but  when 
fhe  was  fiient,  their  natural  obliquity  toward 
heaven  gave  them  an  expreflioa  of  extreme 
feniibility,  and  even  a  flight  tendency  to  mel 
ancholy.  As  for  Paul,  you  might  already  fee 
m  him  the  character  of  a  man,  poffefling  all 
the  graces  of  youth  ;  his  figure  was  taller 
th:in  that  of  Virginia,  his  complexion  darker, 
and  his  noie  more  aquiline  :  his  eyes,  which 
ware  black,  wpu  i  luvepodViled  a  certain  de 
gree  of  haiightiueis,  if  the  long  eye-lafhes, 
which  furrounded  them'j  an-i  v/lilch  refembled 
the  fine  ftrolces  ^*  a  ,  had  not  given 

them  the  great*  :  ,.vr.  :•::.    s,     Though  he  was 
S'tm    fc  :  >utini  ally  in  pptio'n,  the  moment  his 
j  hebecame  tranquil,  and featea 
;.:r;  their  meal  Ire quciitiypailed 
1  bcin     utt  r  J:\heirfllence, 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

cf  their  naked  feet,  would  have  tempted  you 
to  believe,  that  you  beluld  an  antique  grcupe 
of  white  marb-_  -  .  children  o£ 

NIobe ;  but,    wnen  you  i.hcir  look?, 

which  fe'jrned  defirous  to  meet  eadi  other, 
their:  ..ettcr, 

you  v.         have  taken  .    .          Lildren 

of  heaver- -,  v  .•hoi*.*  nature,  iz 

love  ;  and  whr  need    cf  thought  to 

make   tht'.  ••v;:-  ::or  cf  words  ID 

expreis  t::  don, 

In  the  mean  tirn^  me    ;?  1::  Tc  ur, 

perceiving  that  her    da  meed  ia 

life,  with  ib  many  charm?,  felt  her  ui;c 
increaie  \vith  her  tender. 
fometimes  to  me,  "  If  I  flibuld  chance  to  die* 
•v/hat  would  becpmg  of  Virginia,  dowerlejs  as 
Cie  is  ?" 

She  had  an  aunt  in  France,  a  wcman  of 

-y,  rich,  old,  and  a  devotee,  who  had  r*> 

;        !  her  ailiftance,  in  a  manner  fo  unfeeling, 

when  fhe    married  De  la  Tour,  that  fhe  re- 

fr.-lved  i-ever  to  have  recourfe  to  her  again,  to 

whatever  extremity   fhe  migh"  be  reduced. 

Bat,  now  that  flic  v.Tas  become  a  mother,  fhe 

no  longer  dreaded  ;,  .-.j  of  a  refufal: 

ated  her  .  ,  unexpected 

•:,f  tier  hi  rth  of  a  dauglv 

..'Trnent  oi  I         (fairs  ;  cie£. 

She,  however,  received  no  anfweri'Jiut,        g 


PAUL  ANO;  VIRGINIA,  43 

n.  woman  of  exalted  chara&cr,  flie  no  longer 
feared  humiliation,  nor  to  cxpofeherfdf  to  the 
reproaches  of  her  relation,  who  had -never  for 
given  her.  for  having  married  a  man  of  lew 
.  .  virtuous.  Slie  continued? 

*•.  .  :fbre,  to  \vrite  to  her  aunt,  by  every  op 
portunity,  in  the  hope  of  railing  in  her  breaft 
i.ivorable  emotions  toward.  Virginia  • 
r  .    y     v  ; v;    :•          -  :r,  ehpfed,  before  fhc  re- 
i  from  her  ar.y  token  of  ixrnernbrance. 
At  length,  in  i he  year  17464  on.  the  Arrival 
:•  do  la    IV-'-Trdonaye,    Madame   de  la 

-  y-;ras  inferred,  that  their  new  governor 
hid  alette:-  t>-  delivei  to  hei  from  her  aunt. 
in  to  Pert-Louis,  for  this 
urent  ab^ut  ^pi:  earing  in 
her  c:  t.;  maternal  iovc  railing  her 

•:t  to  the  world.     M.  de  la  Bonr- 

donayc  i  her  aunt's  letter,  vrhich  in- 

.  ,  ^  frr 




gh    •      -.vi/iyby  returning,  to  ['ran 

-.:-;  all,  fhe  was  in  an  excellent    conn- 
>  v/herc  every  body  madt-  fortunes",  eSi 
idle.      After  having  thus  reprcachcd  her, 
concluded  with  making  her  own  eiilcgi- 


fl4.  PAUL  A»I>  VIRGINIA. 

urn  ;  to  avoid,  ilie  faid,  the  almoft  inevita 
ble  evils  which  attend  matrimony,  fhe  had 
always  ret ufed  to  marry  :  the  truth  was, 
that,  being  very  ambitious,  ihe  had  refined  to 
unite  herielf  to  any,  except  a  man  of  rank  ; 
but,  although  fhe  was  very  rich,  and  that,  at 
Court,  every  thing  is  a  matter  of  indifference, 
fortune  excepted,  yet  no  perfon  was  found 
willing  to  form  an  alliance  with  a  woman 
homely  to  the  laft  degree,  and,  at  the  fame 
time,  pofTelTed  of  a  mod  unfeeling  heart, 

She  added,  by  way  of  poftcript,  tha; 
ry  thing  coniidercd,  ihe  had  ilrongly  recom- 
mendedher  to  M.de  la  Bourdonaye :  flie  had  in 
deed  recommended  her,  but  conformably  to  a 
cuiioin  but  too  prevalent  at  this  day,  which 
renders  a  protedor  more  to  be  dreaded  than  n 
declared  enemy,  in  order  to  juftify  to  the 
governor,  her  fc verity  to  her  niece,  in  feign 
ing  to  pityj  ihe  had  calumniated  her. 

Madam  de  la  Tour,  who  could  not  be  feen 
by  the  moil  indifferent  perfon,  without  in- 
tereil  and  refpecr,  was  received  with  the 
greateft  coolnels,  by  M.  do-  la  Bourdonayc, 
already  prejudiced  againfl  her.  To  the  ac 
count  which  fhe  gave,  of  her  -ownfltuation. 
and.  that  of  her  daughter,  he  anfwered  only 
by  harfh  monofyllables  ;  "  I  fhall  enquire,'' 
— "  we  (hall  fee,"— "  in  time," — "  there  arc 
many  unhappy  people," — "why  offend 
refpeclable  an  aunt  ?" — "  you  are 
to 


f  AUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  35 

Madame  de  la  Tour  returned  to  the  plan 
tation,  her  heart  opprefled  with  grief,  and  full 
of  bitternefs  ;  on  her  arrival  Ihe  fat  down, 
threw  her  aunt's  letter  en  the  table,  and  faid 
to  her  friend,  "  ^Behold  the  fruits  of  eleven 
years  patience."  But  as  tio  one  of  the  foci- 
ety  knew  how  to  read,  except  Madame  de  la 
Tour,  ihe  took'  up  the  letter  again,  and  read 
it  to  all  the  family.  Scarcely  had  ihe  con 
cluded,  when  Margaret  faid  to  her  with  vi 
vacity,  "  What  need  have  we  of  thy  re 
lations  ?  Has  GOD  forfaken  us  ?  He  only  is 
our  father  ;  have  we  not  lived  happily  until 
this  day  ?  Why  then  fhould  you  afRict  your- 
felf  ?  You.  have  no  fortitude.*'  Perceiving 
that  Madame  de  la  Tour  was  much  affected, 
fhe  threw  herfelf  on,  her  bofowi,  folded  her 
in  her  arms,  and  exclaimed,  "  My  dear 
friend,  my  dear  friend  !"  Her  own  fobs 
quite  choked  her  voice.  At  this  fight  Vir 
ginia  melting  into  tears  alternately  prelled 
the  hands  of  her  mother,  and  of  Margaret, 
to  her  lips,  and  to  her  heart ;'  whiiil  Paul, 
his  eyes  enflamed  with  rage?  exclaimed  aloud, 
clenched  his  fifts,  flamped  with  his  feet,  not 
knowing  how  to  vent  his  rage.  At  the  noife 
which  he  made,  Domingo  and  Mary  ran  in, 
and  nothing  but  exclamations  of  diilrefs 
were  heard  in  the  cottage:  "  Ah!  Madam!" 
"  My  good  miftrefs  !" — "  My  dear  mother  !" 
»—«Bo  notdiftrefsycurfdf't"  Such  tender 
C 


*6  PAUL  AN»  VIRGINIA. 

marks  of  affection  Toon  diffipated  the  anguifli 
of  Madame  de  la  Tour  :  (he  embraced  Paul 
and  Virginia,  and  laid  to  them,  with  a  look  of 
fatisfaction,  "  My  dear  children,  you  are  the 
caufe  of  my  tears,  but  you  arc  alfo  the  fource 
of  all  the  happinefs  I  enjoy:  Oh,  my  chil 
dren,  misfortune  attacks  me  only  from  afar? 
felicity  is  ever  around  me."  Paul  and  Vir 
ginia  did  not  comprehend  what  fhe  faid,  but 
as  foon  as  they  faw  that  fhe  was  compofed, 
they  fmiled  and  care/Ted  her.  Thus  was 
peace  reftored,  and  the  pad  fcene  was  only 
like  a  ftormy  cloud  in  the  rnidft  of  fummer. 

The  good  difpofitions  of  thefe  children 
were  unfolding  themfelves  from  day  to  day. 
One  Sunday,  about  funrife,  their  mothers  hav 
ing  gone  to  the  firft  mafs,  at  the  church  of 
PamplemoufTes,  a  fugitive  negro-woman 
made  her  appearance,  under  the  bananas 
which  furrounded  their  plantation.  She  was 
as  meagre  as  a  fkeleton,  and  without  a  bit  of 
cloathing,  except  a  fhred  of  tattered  canvas 
about  her  loins.  She  threw  herfelf  at  Vir 
ginia's  feet,  who  was  preparing  the  family 
breakfaft,  and  thus  addreffed  her :  "  My  dear 
young  lady,  take  pity  on  a  mifemble  runaway 
{lave  :  for  more  than  a  month  paft,  I  have 
been  wandering  about  thefc  mountains,  half 
dead  with  famine,  and  frequently  purfuecl  by 
the  huntfmen  and  their  dogs,  I  have  fled 
from  my  mailer,  who  is  a  we<ikhy  planter  ou 


*AUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  a# 

the  black  river  :  he  has  treated  me  in  the 
manner  you  fee."  She  then  inowed  her  body, 
deeply  furrowed  by  the  ftrokes  of  the  whip 
which  /he  had  received  ;  fne  added,  "  I  had 
thoughts  of  drowning  myfelf,  but  knowing 
that  you  lived  here,  I  thus  reflected  ;  perhaps 
there  are  ft  ill  fome  good  white  people  in  this 
country,  I  muft  not  die  yet."  Virginia,  much 
affected,  replied,  "  Take  comfort,  unfortu 
nate  creature  !  eat,  eat."  Upon  which,  fhe 
gave  her  the  break£afl  which  fhe  had  prepar 
ed  for  the  family.  The  Have,  in  a  few  mo 
ments,  devoured  the  whole  of  it.  Virginia, 
feeing  her  refrefhed,  faid  to  her  :  "  Poor 
wretch  !  I  have  a  great  dcfire  to  go  to  your 
mailer,  and  implore  your  pardon :  at  the  fight 
of  you,  he  muft  be  touched  with  companion  t 
will  you  conduct  me  to  him  ?" — "  Angel  of 
Gor>  !"  replied  the  negrefs,  "  I  will  follow 
you  wherever  you  lead  me."  Virginia  called 
aer  brother,  and  begged  him  to  accompany 
her  :  the  fugitive  fiave  conducted  them,  by 
narrow  paths,  to  the  widdle  of  the  woods, 
acrofs  high  mountains,  over  which  they 
ferambled  with  'difficulty,  and  great  rivers, 
hich  they  forded.  At  length,  toward  the 
middle  of  the  day,  they  arrived  at  the  bottom 
of  a  mountain  on  the  banks  of  the  black  river. 
They  there  perceived  a  well  built  houfe,  con- 
fiderable  plantations,  and  a  great  number  of 
Oaves  engaged  in  different  occupations.  Their 

C    2 


*&  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

nutter  was  walking  in  the  midft  of  them, 
with  a  pipe  in -bis  mouth,  and  a  ratan  in  his 
hand.  He  was  a  very  tall,  lean  man,  of  an 
olive  complexion,  with  his  eyes  funk  in  his 
head,  and  his  eye  brows  black,  and  meeting 
each  other.  Virginia,  quite  petrified  holding 
Paul  by  the  arm,  approached  the  mailer  and 
entreated  him,  for  the  love  of  GOD,  to -par-, 
don  his  ilave,  who  was  a  few  paces  behind 
them.^  The  matter,  at  firft  did  not  pay  much 
attention  to  thefe  two-  children,  who  were; 
but  meanly  clad  ;  when,  however,  he  had 
remarked  the  elegant  form  of  Virginia,  her 
beautiful  flaxen  hair,  which  appeared  from 
under  a  blue  hood,  and  when  he  had  heard 
the  fweet  tones  of  her  voice,  which  trembled, 
as  well  as  her  body,  while  flie  implored  his 
forgivenefs,  he  took  the  pipe  from  his  mouth, 
and,  raiilng  his  ratan  toward  heaven,  declar^ 
ed,  with  a  terrible  oath,  that  he  would  par 
don  his  ilave,  not  for  the  love  of  GOD,  but 
for  the  love  of  her.  Virginia  immediately 
made  a  ilgn  for.  the  flave  to  advance  toward 
her  mailer,  and  then  ran  away,  while  Paul 
followed  her. 

They  fc  rambled,  together,  up  the  fteep  de 
clivity  of  the  mountain,  by  which  they  had 
defcended  in  the  morning,  and  having  ^rrive4 
at  its  fummlt,  they  feated  rhemfelves  under  a 
tree,  exhaufted  with  fatigue,  hunger,  and 
thiril.  They  had  travelled  from  the  rifing 


AND  VIRGINIA.  *f 

b?  the  fun,  more  than  five  league?,  without 
having  tafted  food  :  Paul  addreffed  Virginia 
thus  :  "  iSifler,  it  is  pail  mid-day,  you  are 
hungry,  you  are  thirfty  ;  we  fhail  find  no 
refrefhment  here,  let  us  again  defcend  the 
mountain,  and  requeft  the  mailer  of  the  Have 
to  give  us  fomething  to  eat,*— "Oh, no  !  my 
friend/'  replied  Virginia,  "  he  has  terrified 
me  too  much  already  :  do  you  not  remember 
what  mama  has  often  faid  5  the  bread  of  the 
wicked  Jills  the  mouth  with  gravel?" — "What 
fhail  we  do  then  ?  faid  Paul,  "  thefe  trees 
produce  only  bad  fruits  :  there  is  not  fo  much 
as  a  tamarind,  or  a  lemon,  to  refreih  you."  . 
— "  GOD  will  have  pity  on  us,"  returned 
Virginia,  "  he  hears  the  voices  of  the  little 
birds,  which  call  to  hirn  for  food."  Scarcely 
had  ihe  pronounced  thefe  words,  when  they 
heard  the  bubbling  of  a  fountain,  which  fell 
from  a  neighbouring  rock:  they  immediately 
ran  to  it,  and  after  having  quenched  their 
third  with  water,  more  clear  than  cryftal,  they 
gathered,  and  ate  a  few  of  the  creffes,  which 
grew  upon  its  banks.  -*As  they  were  anx- 
ioufiy  looking  about,  from  fide  to  fide,  to 
fee  if  they  could  not  find  feme  more  £ib(ian- 
tial  food,  Virginia  perceived,  among  the  trees 
of  the  foreft,  a  young  palm-tree.  The  cole- 
wort,  which  is  inclofed  in  the  leaves,  that 
grow  on  the  top  of  this  tree,  is  very  good  to 
eat  \  but  though  its  trunk  was  not  thicker 


39  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

than  a  min's  leg,  it  was  more  than  fixty  fee* 
high.     The  wood  of  this  tree,  indeed,  is  only 
formed  of  u  bundle  of  filaments,  but  its  pith 
is  fo  hard,  that  it  refills  the  edge  of  the  keen- 
eft  hatchet,  and  Paul  had  not  fo  much  as  a 
knife.     The  idea  occurred  to  him,  of  fetting 
fire  to  the  palm-tree,  but  here  again  he  was 
ata  fofe;  he  had  no   Heel  ;  and  befides,  in 
this  iiland,  fo  covered  with  rock,  I  do   not 
believe,  that  a  tingle  flint-done  is  to  be  found. 
Necefllty  produces  induftry,  and  themoilufe- 
fui  inventions  are  frequently  to  be  afcribed  to 
the  mod  mtferable    of  mankind.     Paul   re- 
folved  to  kindle  a  fire  in  the  fame  manner 
that  the  blacks  do.     With  the  (harp  point  of 
a  ftone,  he  bored  a  little  hole  in  the  branch 
of  a  tree  that  was  very  dry,  which  he  maf- 
tered  by  preffing  it  under  his  feet :  he  <hen 
with  the  edge  oF  this  ftone,  made  a  point  to 
another  branch,   equally  dry,  but  of  a  dif 
ferent  fpecies  of  wood.     Afterwards,  he  ap 
plied  this  piece  of  pointed  wood  to  the  little 
hole  of  the  branch,  which    was  under   his 
feet,  and  fpinning  it  round,  with  great  ra 
pidity,    between  his  hands,   as  you  trundle 
round  die  mill  with  which  chocolate  is  frodi? 
ed  up,  in  a  few  moments,  he  faw  fmoke  and 
fparks  ifliie  from  the  point  of  contact.     He 
then   gathered  together  fome  dry  herbage, 
and  other  branches  of  trees,  and  applied  the 
fire  to  tl;e  root  gf  the  palm  tree,  which 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  31 

fently  fell  with  a  terrible  craflu  The  fire 
likewife  affifted  him  in  peeling  off  from  the 
colewort  its  long,  ligneous,  and  prickly  leaves.- 
Virginia  and  he  eat  a  part  of  this  cabbage 
raw,  and  the  otherpart  drefTed  upon  the  afhes» 
and  found  them  easily  favoury.  They  en 
joyed  this  frugal  repaft  with  the  higheft  fatit 
faction,  from  the  recollection  of  the  good  ac 
tion,  which  they  had  performed  in  the  morn 
ing  ;  but  their  joy  was  greatly  damped,  by 
the  uneafmefs,  which  they  had  not  a  doubt 
their  long  abfence  mult  have  occafioned  to 
their  parents.  Virginia  recurred  frequently 
to  this  fubjecl  ;  while  Paul,  who  now  felt 
his  itrength  reftored,  affured  her,  that  it  would 
not  be  long,  before  they  got  home,  to  quiet 
the  anxiety  of  their  mothers. 

After  dinner,  they  found  themfelves  much 
embarrafTed,  for  they  had  no  longer  a  guide 
to  dired  them  homewards.  Paul,  who  was 
difconcerted  at  nothing,  faid  to  Virginia 
"  Our  cottage  looks  toward  the  noon-day  fan, 
we  muft,  therefore,  pafs  as  we  did  this  morn^ 
ing,  over  that  mountain  which  you  fee  be 
low,  with  its  three  peaks.  Come,  let  us  walk 
on,  my  friend/'  This  mountain  is  called  that 
of  the  Three  Paps,*  becaufe  its  three  peaks 

*  There  are  many  mountains,  the  fummits  of  whick 
srcrounded  into  the  form  of  a  woman's  brea  ft,  and  be*r 
all  hngua^es.    They  are,  iadeed,  re*I 


31  *AUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

have  that  form.  They  defcended  then  the 
gloomy  declivity  of  the  black  river,  toward 
the  North,  and  arrived,  after  an  hour's  walk 
ing,  at  the  banks  of  a  coniiderable  river, 
which  barred  their  prdgrefs.  That  large 
portion  of  the  ifland,  entirely  covered  with 
forefts,  is  fo  little  known,  even  at  this  day, 
that  many  of  its  rivers  and  mountains  are 
ftill  without  a  name.  The  river,  upon  the 
banks  of  which  they  were,  flows  ixnpetuoufly 
over  a  bed  of  rocks.  The  noife  of  its  wa 
ters  terrified  Virginia  ;  (he  durft  not  venture 
to  put  her  feet  into  it,  for  the  purpofe  of  ford 
ing  over.  Paul,  upon  this,  took  Virginia  on 
his  back ;  and  thus  laden,  paffed  over  the 
flippery  rocks  of  the  river,  in  fpite  of  the 
tumult  of  the  waves.  "Be  not  afraid,"  faid 
he  to  her,  "  I  feel  my  ftrength  renewed,  hav 
ing  trie  charge  of  you.  If  the  planter  of 
the  black  river  had  refilled  to  your  entreaties 
the  pardon  of  his  Have,  I  fhould  have  fought 
with  him."  "  How!"  exclaimed  Virginia, 
"with  that  man,  fo  large,  and  fo  wicked  ?  To 

what  have  I  expifcd  you  ?    My  GOD  !'  how 

•* 

paps ;  for  from  them  iffue  multitudes  of  brooks  and 
rivers,  which  diffufe  abundance  over  the  face  of  the 
earth.  They  are  the  fources  of  the  principal  ftreams 
•which  water  it,  and  furniih  them  with  a  conftant  fup* 
ply,  by  continually  attracting  the  clouds  around  the 
peak  of  the  rock,  which  overtops  them  at  the  cen 
tre,  like,  a  nipple. 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  33 

difficult  a  thing  it  is  to  a&  properly  !  Evil 
alone  is  performed  with  facility  !" 

When  Paul  had  arrived  on .  the  farther 
iide,  he  was  deiirous  of  continuing  the  jour 
ney,  laden  as  he  was  with  the  weight  of  his 
Cfter,  and  he  flattered  himfelf  that  he  fhould 
be  able  thus  to  afcend  the  mountain  of  the 
Three  Paps,  which  he  faw  before  him*  at  the 
diflance  of  a  league  and  a  half,  under  the 
fame  burden  with  which  he  had  croifed  the 
river  ;  but  his  ftrength  very  foon  failed  him, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  fet  her  on  the  ground, 
and  repofe  himfelf  by  her  fide,  Virginia  then 
faid  to  him,  "  Brother,  the  day  is  declining 
fall ;  you  have  dill  fome  ftrength  remaining, 
and  mine  entirely  fails  3  fuffer  me  to  re* 
main  here,  and  do  yo'u  return  alone  to  our 
cottage  to  reftore  tranquillity  to  our  moth* 
ers."  "  Oh  no  !"  faid  Paul,  «  I  will  never 
leave  you.  If  the  night  fhould  furprize  us 
in  thefe  woods,  I  will  light  a  fire,  I  will  fell 
thefe  palm-trees,  you  fhall  eat  the  colewort, 
and  I  will  make  of  its  leaves  an  ajoupa  to 
fiielter  you."'  Virginia,  however,  being  a 
little  revived,  gathered,  from  the  trunk  of  an 
old  tree  which  grew  upiv.i  the  edge  of  the 
river,  long  leaves  of  the  fcolopendra,  which 
hung  down  from  its  boughs.  She  made  of 
thefe,  a  fpecies  of  fandals,  which  fhe  put  on 
her  feet ;  for  they  were  wounded  to  bleedings 
by  the  fcarp  ftones,  which  covered  the  road  «. 


34  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

i 

for,  in  her  eagernefs  to  do  good,  fhe  had  for- 
gotten  to  put  on  her  fhoes.  Feeling  herfelf 
relieved  by  the  frefhnefs  of  thefe  leaves,  (he 
broke  off  a  branch  of  bamboo,  and  proceed* 
ed  on  her  journey,  refting  one  hand  on  this 
reed,  and  the  other  on  her  brother.  They 
thus  walked  flowly  on  through  the  \voods ; 
but  the  height  of  the  trees,  and  the  thicknefs 
of. their  foliage,  loon  made  them  lofe  fight  of 
the  mountain  of  the  Three  Paps,  to  which 
they  were  directing  their  courfe,  and  even  of 
the  fun,  which  was  near  fetting.  After 
fome  time,  they  ftrayed,  without  perceiving 
it,  from  the  beaten  path,  which  they  had 
hitherto  purfued,  and  found  themfelves  in  a 
labyrinth  of  trees  of  lianes,  and  of  rocks, 
which  had  no  outlet. 

Paul  made  Virginia  fit  down,  and  ran  about 
quite  diffracted,  in  queft  of  a  road,  that  would 
lead  them  out  of  this  maze,  but  he  fatigued 
himfelf  in  vain.  He  fcrambled  to  the  top  of 
a  large  tree,  with  the  hope  of  difcovering,  at 
lead,  the  mountain  of  the  Three  Paps^  but 
he  could  perceive  nothing  around  him,  except 
the  furnmits  of  trees,  fome  of  which  were  gild 
ed  by  the  laft  rays  of  the  fetting  fun.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  fhadow  of  the  mountains  had 
already  covered  the  foreftsin  the  vallics ;  the 
\rind.was  hufhed,  as  it  ufually  is  at  the  fetting 
of  th'e  fun  ;  a  profound  fllence  reigned  in 
thefc  &Htudes,  ^r«d  no  ether  fcund  was  to  be 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  35 

heard,  but  the  braying  of  the  deer,  which 
came  to  feck  a  place  of  repofe,  for  the  night, 
in  thefe  wild  retreats.  Paul,  in  the  hope  that 
fome  huntfman  might  hear  his  voice,  then 
called  out  with  all  his  might,  "  Come,  come 
to  the  relief  of  Virginia  :"  but  the  only  an- 
fwer  he  received  was  from  the  folitary  echoes 
of  the  fore  ft,  \vhich  repeated  at  intervals, 
"  Virginia  !  Virginia  !" 

Paul,  at  length,  defcended  from  the  tree, 
opprefFed  with  fatigue  an-ti  vexation  ;  he  med 
itated  on  the  means  of  palling  the  night  in 
this  place  ;  but  there  was  neither  fountain, 
nor  palm-tree,  to  be  found  in  it ;  not  even  fo 
much  as  branches  of  dry  wood,  proper  to  kin 
dle  a  fire.  He  then  felt,  from  experience, 
the  inefficacy  of  his  refources,  and  began  to 
weep.  Virginia  faid  to  him,  "  Do  not  dif- 
trefs  yourfelf,  my  friend,  if  you  would  not 
wifh  to  fee  me  overwhelmed  with  grief.  It  is 
I  who  am  the  caufe  of  all  your  fufferings, 
and  of  thofe  which  our  mothers  now  endure. 
We  fhould  do  nothing  without  confulting  our 
parents,  not  even  what,  is  right.  Oh  !  I  have 
been  very  imprudent  \"  Upon  faying  which, 
iheburfl  into  tears.  -In  the  mean  time,  (he 
faid  to  Paul,  «  Let  us  pray  to  GOD,  my 
brother,  and  he  will  take  companion  on  us." 
Scarcely  had  they  finifhed  their  prayer,  when 
they  heard  a  dog  bark.  "  It  is,"  faid  Paul, 
"  the  dog  of  fome  huntfman,  who- conies  of  an 


36  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

evening  to  kill  the  deer  in  their  retreat.*'  A 
fiioit  time  after,  the  barking  of  the  dog  re 
doubled.  "  I  have  an  idea/*  laid  Virginia, 
that  it  is  Fidele,  our  cottage  dog  ;  yes,  I  re- 
collet  his  voice  :  is  it  pofuble,  that  we  fLould 
be  fo  near  our  journey's  end,  and  at  the  foot 
of  our  mountain  ?"  In  truth,  a  moment  af 
terwards,  Fidele  was  at  their  feet,  barking, 
howling,  groaning,  and  loading  them  with 
carei&s.  Before  they  had  recovered  from 
their  furprize,  they  perceived  Domingo,  who 
was  running  toward  them.  At  the  fight  of 
this  worthy  negro,  who  wept  with  joy,  they 
alfo  fhed  tears,  without  being  able  to  fay  one 
word.  When  Domingo  had  a  little  recover* 
cd  himfelf  :  "  Oh.  my  young  mailers,"  faid 
he  to  them,  "  what  difirefs  your  mothers  are 
in  !  how  ailonilhcd  they  were  at  not  finding 
you,  on  their  return  from  mafs,  whither  I  had 
accompanied  them  !  Mary^  who  was  at  work 
in  a  corner  of  the  plantation,  could  not  tell 
whither  yrou  were  gone  :  I  wandered  about 
the  plantation,  not  knowing  myiclf  where  to 
ftek  you  :  at  length,  I  took  the  old  clothes, 
which  you  ufed  to  wear  ;*  I  made  Fidele 
fmell  to  them ;  and,  as  if  the  poor  animal 

*  ThJs  trait  of  fagacity  in  the  black  Domingo  and 
his  dog  Fidele,  very  much  refembles  that  of  the  favage 
Tcwenifla,  and  his  dog  Oniah,  mentioned  by  M.  de 
Crevecrcur,  in  his  humane  wwk,  entitled, "  J 
of  an  American  Farmer.'* 


PAUL  AKD  VIRGINIA.  3? 

had  underflood  me,  he  immediately  fet  off 
to  trace  your  fleps.      He  conducted  me,  al 
ways  wagging  his  tail,  to  the  black  river.— 
There,  I  was  informed  by  a  planter,  that  you 
had  brought  a  fugitive  Have  back  to  him,  and 
that  he  had  pardoned  her  at  your  intercefilon. 
But  what  a  pardon  !  he  flic  wed  her  to  me, 
faflened,  with  a  chain  round  her  foot,  to  a  leg 
of  wood,   and  an    iron    collar,    with   three 
rings,  round  her  neck.     From  thence,  Fidele, 
following  the  fcent,  conducted   me    to   the 
mount  of  the  black  river,  where  he  again  ilop- 
p^d,  and  barked  as    loud  as  he  was    able. 
It  was  on  the  brink  of  a  Fountatn,  near  a  palm- 
tree,  which  had  been  levelled,  and  a  Sre  not 
quite  extinguished :  at  length,  he  conducted 
me  to  this  place.     We  arc  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  of  the  Three  Paps,  and  it  is  flili 
four  good  leagues  from  our  dwelling.     Coma 
en,  eat,  and  recruit  your  ftrength."     He'then 
prefented  to  them  a  cake,  feme  fruit,  and  a 
large  gourd  bottle,  filled  wifn  a  liquor  com 
pounded  of  water,  v/ine.  lemon -juice,  fugar> 
and  nutmeg,  which  their  mothers  had  pre 
pared  to  ilrengthen  and  revive  them.     Vir 
ginia  iighed   at  the  recollection  of  the  poor 
ilave,    and  at  the  diilrefs  of  their  mother?. 
She  repeated  fever^l  times,  "  Oh  !  how  dif- 
£cu!t  it  is  to  do  good  l?> 

While  Paul  and  flie  were  refrefhing  them- 
felvcs,  Domingo  ligh^d  a  fire,  and  looking  a- 


3$  f»AUt  AND  VIRGINIA. 

bout  among  the  rocks  for  a  crocked  billet. 
%vhich  we  call  rouiid*wcod,  and  which  bums 
even  in  the  fap,  throwing  cut  a  very  bright 
fame,  he  made  a  flambeau  cf  it,  and  fet  It 
2.  burning  ;  for  it  "was  now  quite  dark.  But 
he  had  to  encounter  a  much  greater  difficulty; 
\vhen  all  was  ready  :cr  j-v  receding  forward, 
Paul  and  Virginia  were  abioluteiy  incapable 
of  walking  any  farther  ;  their  feet  being 
dwelled,  and  raw  all  over.  DC  mingo  was 
completely  puzzled  ;  he  could  not  determine 
whether  it  would  be  more  advifeablc  for  him 
to  ramble  about  in  queft  of  afliiiance,  or  to 
prepare  for  pafling  the  night  with  them, 
where  they  were.  "  Whither  has  the  time 
fied,"faid  he  to  themy  "  when  I  carried  you 
both  at  once  in  my  arms  ?  But  now,  you  are 
increnfed  in  nature,  and  I  am  old/'  While 
he  was  reduced  to  this  (late  of  perplexity,  a 
company  of  run»a-way  negroes  appeared,  a- 
bout  twenty  paces  diflant.  The  leader  cf  the 
troop,  approaching  Paul  and  Virginia,  thus 
addrefled  them  ,  "  Good  little  whites,  be  net 
afraid  ;  we  faw  you  this  morning  padlr.g  alqpg 
in  company  with  a  negrefs  of  ihe  black  ri%Ter ; 
you  were  going  to  folicit  her  pardon  of  a  cru 
el  mailer  ;  out  of  gratiiude  we  v;:ll  carry  you 
borne  upon  our  tnouiders."  Upcn  thi;;  he 
made  a  fign,  and  four  cf  the  fl'o^teft  black 
fellows  immediately  fonned  a  litter,  with 
boughs  of  trees  and  lines,  placed.  Paul  and 


VIRGINIA,  39 

\ 

Virginia  upon  it,  hoiHed  them  upon  their 
{boulders",  and,  Domingo  marching  before 
them  with  his  flambeau,  they  took  the  road, 
aniidft  the  joyful  acclamations  of  the  \vhole 
company,  who  loaded  them  with  benedictions. 
Virginia,  quite  overcome,  whilpered  to  Paul, 
j  my  dear  friend  I  God  never  permits  a 
jood  aclion  to  go  unrewarded." 

About  midnight,  they  arrived  at  the  bot* 
om  of  their  own  mountain,  the  ridges  of 
which  were  illumined  with  various  fires* 
Scarcely  had  they  got  to  the  top,  when  they- 
heard  voices  calling  aloud  :  "  Is  it  you,  rny 
children  ?"  The  blacks  and  they  replied  to* 
Aether  :  "  Yes,  yes,  here  we  are  !J>  and  prefc 
:ntly  they  perceived  their  mothers  and  Mar/ 
coming  to  meet  them,  with  flaming  torches* 
*  Unhappy  children!"  exclaimed  Madame 
de  la  Tour,  "  whence  come  you  ?  Into  what 
agonies  have  you  thrown  us !"  "  We  come/* 
•eplied  Virginia,  "  from  the  black  river, 
vhither  we  went  this  njorning  to  implore 
he  i «  don  of  a  poor  fugitive  negreis,  to 
whom  1  like  wife  gave  the  family  breakfaft, 
"or  Ihe  was  juft  perifhing  with  hunger;  and 
here,  die  black  rim-a-ways  have  carried  us 
:iocne  again.'1  Madame'  de  la  Tour  tender- 
y  embraced  her  daughter,  utterly  deprived 
cf  the  power  of  fpeech  ;  and  Virginia,  who 
:elt  her  own  face  moiftened  with  her  mother's 
tears,  faid  to  her  :  "  How  you  repay  me  for 
D  2 


4<3  *AUL  AND  VIRGINIA/ 

all  that  I  have  fufFered  !"  Murgaret,  tranf- 
ported  with  delight,  locked  Paul  in  her  arms, 
faying  ;  «  And  thou  too,  my  fon,  thou  hail 
performed  a  good  aftion  !"  Being  arrived  at 
their  cottage,  with  the  children,  they  <>-ave  a 
plentiful  fupper  to  the  black  guides,  who  re 
turned  to  the  woods,  with  a  thoufand  eood 
willies  for  their  profperity. 

Every  fucceeding  day  was,  to  th-fe  fami 
lies,  a  day  of  happinefs  and  tranquillity.—. 
They  were  Grangers  to  the  torments  of  envy 
and  of  ambition.  Thtey  coveted  not,  from 
abroad,  that  vain  reputatiori,  which  is  pur- 
chafed  by  intrigue,  and  which  the  breath  cf 
calumny  deilroys.  It  was  fufficient  for  them 
to  be  in  the  place  of  witnefs,  and  of  judge  to 
each  other.  In  this  ifland,  where,  as  in  all 
the  European.colonies,  no  curiofity  is  expref- 
fed,  except  in  hunting  after  malicious  anec 
dotes,  their  virtues,  nay,  their  very  names 
were  unknown.  Only  when  a  paiTenger  hap* 
pened  to  alk,  on  the  road  to  PamplerrtouiTes, 
of  one  of  die  inhabitants  of  the  plain  ;  4«  Vv  ho 
lives  in  yonder  cottages  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  ?"  the  anfwer  returned,  without  pretend- 
Ing  to  any  farther  knowledge  of  them,  was  ; 
They  are  good  people."  Thus  the  vicJets, 
from  underlie  prickly  fhrubbery,  exhale  at  a 
diflance  their  fragrant  perfume,  thpurh  th<-Y- 
remain  unfcen. 


£ AUL  AKL  VIRGINIA.  4* 

They  had  baniihed  from  their  convsrfa- 
tion  the  pra&ice  of  evil-fpeaking,  \vhich,  un 
der  an  appearance  of  juitice,  nec^ffarily  di£ 
pofes  the  heart  to  hatred,  or  to  faliehood  3 
tor  it  is  impofiiblc  to  refrain  frcm  hating  men, 
if  we  believe  them  to  be  wicked;  and  to 
live  with  the  wicked,  unlefs  you  conceal  your 
hatred  of  them,  under  falfe  appearances  of 
benevolence.  EviL-fpeaking,  accordingly, 
lays  us  under  the  necefllty  of  being  upoa 
bad  terms  with  others,  or  with  -ourfelves. 
But  without  fitting  in  judgment  on  men,  in 
particular,  they  entertained  one  another,  on 
ly  in  deviling  the  means  of  doing  good  to  all 
in  general  ;  and,  though  they  polierTed  not 
the  power,  they  had  an  invariable  difpofition 
this  way,  which  animated  them  with  a  benev 
olence  at  all  times  ready  to  extend  itfelf  in  an 
outward  direction.  By  living,  therefore,  in 
folitude,  fo  far  from  degenerating  into  fava« 
ges,  they  had  become  more  humane*  If 
the  fcandalous  hiftory  of  iceieiy  did  not  fup- 
ply  them  with  matter  of  convention,  that 
of  nature  replenifhed  their  hearts  with  tran£ 
ports  of  wonder  and  delis:!::.  They  con 
templated,  with  rapture,  the  power  of  that 
Providence  v-hich,  by  their  hands,  had  dif- 
fufed  amidft  thefe  barren  recks  abundance, 
gracefulness,  pleafures  pure,  fnr:pk,  and  per* 
p^tually  renewing 


41  PAUL  ANB  VIRGINIA 

Paul,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  more  vigorous, 
and  more  intelligent,  than  Europeans  in  gen 
eral  are  at  fifteen,  had  embelliilied  what  the 
negro  Domingo  only  cultivated.  He  went 
with  him  to  the  adjoining  woods,  to  take  up 
by  the  roots  the  young  plants  of  lemon  and 
oiange-trees,  of  the  tamarinds,  whole  round 
head  is  of  fuch  a  beautiful  green,  and  of 
-tier,  whole  Irakis  ftored  with  a  fugary 
cream,  which  emits  the  perfume  of  the  orange- 
dflcwer.  Ke  planted  thcfe  trees,  after  they 
had  attained  a  confiderable  feature,  all  a 
this  enclofure.  He  had  there  fown  the  grains 
of  fuch  trees  as,  from  the  fecond  year  and 
upward,  bear  flowers,  or -fruits,  ;\s  the  agathis^ 
from  which  depend  circularly,  like  the  cryf- 
tai  pendents  of  a  luihre,  long  clufters  of  white 
flowers ;  the  Perfian  lilach.  which  raL'es 
ftralght  into  the  air  its  grey,  flaxen  giran 
doles  ;  the  papayei'i  whofe  branchiefs  trunk, 
formed  like  a  column,  bridled  ail  over  with 
green  melons,  carries  aloft  a  chapiter  of 
broad  leaves,  rilernbHr.g  thcfe  of  the  fig- 
tree. 

He  had  likewise  planted  in  it  the  kernels 
and  the  nuts  of  the  badxmier,  cf  the  man- 
eo,  of  the  awcatier*  of  the  goywier,  of  the 
Jacques*  and  of  the  jam-ro:c.  Mole  of  thefe 
trees  already  yielded,  to  their  young  ir^iltr, 
both  iro.dc  and  fruit.  His  induilrious  hand 
hc.d  v-ifruied  f-.-cuiiwUy  <:vcu  over  the  moft  lltr* 


PAUL  AN  a  VIRGINIA.  43 

ile  fpct  of  the  enclcfure.  Aloes  of  various 
kinds,  the  raquet,  loaded  with  yellow  flow* 
ers  ftriped  with  red,  the  prickly  capers,  arofe' 
on  the  duiky  iummits  of  the  rocks5  and  feem- 
ed  defircus  of  mounting  up  to  the  lianes>  gar- 
nifhed  with  blue,  or  icarlet  flowers,  which 
hung  down  here  and  there,  along  the  preci 
pices  cf  the  mountain. 

He  had  difpofed  thefe  vegetables  in  fuch 
a  manner,  that  you  could  enjoy  the  fight  of 
them,  by  a  iingle  glance  of  the  eye.     He 
haci  planted,  in  the  middle  of  the  bafon,  the 
herbage,  which  grows  to  no  great  height,  af 
ter  that  the  Ihrubbery,  then  the  trees  of  final} 
flature,  andlaft  of  all,  the  great  trees,  which 
garnifhed  its  circumference  ;  fo  that  thisvaft 
enclofure  appeared,  from  its  centre^  like  an 
amphitheatre  of  verdure,  of  fruits,  and  flow 
ers,  containing  pot-herbs,  ftripes  of  meadow- 
ground;  and   fields  of  rice  and  corn.     But 
infubjcc'Hng  thus  the  vegetable  kidgdom  to 
his  plan,  he  had  not  deviated  from  the  plans  of 
nature.     Directed  by  the   indications  which 
flie  vcuchfafes  to  give,  lie  had  placed  in  eleva 
ted  fituations  the  plants  whofeVeeds  are  vola 
tile,  and  by  the  fide  of  the  waters  thole  whofe 
grains  are  adapted  to  floating.     Thus,  each 
vegetable  grew  in  its  proper  fite,  and  each 
fite  Deceived   from  its   vegetable  its    natural 
drefs.     The  ftreams,  which  defcended  frcni 
the  Aimrnit  of  tht^  recks,  formed  belovia 


44  PAUL  AKO  VIRGINIA. 

the  valley,  here,  fountains,  there,  broad  and 
capacious  mirrors,  which  refle&ed.  in  the 
jnidil  of  the  verdure,  the  trees  in  bloooi,  the 
rocks,  and  the  azure  of  the  heavens. 

Notwithftanding  the  great  irregularity  of 
the  foil,   all   thefe  plantations  were,  for   the 
mofl  part,  as  acccilible  to  the  foot "  as  to  the 
eye.     In  truth,  we  all  affiited  him,  with  cur 
advice  and  with  our  exertions,  in  order  to  ac- 
compliih  his  purpofe.     He  had  traced  a  path, 
which  winded  round  the  bafon,  and  of  which 
feveral   ramifications    converged  from   the 
circumference  to   meet  at  the  centre.     He 
had  availed  himfelf  of  the  moil  rugged  places 
of  his  domain,  and  united,  by  a  harmony  the 
moil  delicious,  facility  of  walking  with  the 
afperity  of  the  foil,  and  dome  (lie  with  for  ell 
trees.     Of  that  enormous  quantity  of  rolling 
(tones,  which   now   obftruft  thefe  roads,  as 
wdl  as  mar  the  greateft  part  of  the  furface  of 
this  ifland,.  he  had  formed,  in  various  places, 
huge  pyramids,  in  the  layers  of  which  h~  had 
mixed  with  earth  and  the  roots  of  role -trees 
the  poindih'Je,  and  other  fhrubs,  which  take 
pleafure  in  the  recks.     In  a  very  iliort  time, 
thcfe  gloomy  and  inanimate  piles  were  cov 
ered  with  verdure,  or  with  the  dazzling  luftre 
of  the  mod  beautiful  flowers.     The  cavities 
worn  by  the  torrent  In  the  fides  of  the  moun 
tain,  bordered  with  s.^ed  trees  inclined  toward 
each  other,  formed  fubterraaean  arches,  inac-- 


PAUL  ANt>  VIRGINIA.  45 

ceffible  to  the  heat  to  which  they  retired  for 
coolnefs,  during  the  fultry  ardor  of  the  me- 
ridian  fun.     A  narrow  path  conduced  into 
a  thicket  of  wild-trees,  at  the  centre  of  which 
grew,  flickered  from  the  winds,  a  houlehold 
tree  loaded  with  fruit.     There,  was  a  corn 
field  whitening  to  the  harveft  ;  here,  an  or- 
chard.     Through  this  avenue,  you  could  fee 
the  houfes  ;    through  that,    the  inacceffible 
fumrnits  of  the   mountain.     Under  a  tufted 
grove  of  tatawaques*   interlaced  with  lianesi 
»  one  obje-fb  was  diftinguifliable,'even  in  the 
bnghtnefs   of  noon-day.     On  the   point   of 
that  great    rock  adjoining,  which    juts  out 
•ie  mountain,  you  could  difcern  all  thole 
contained  within  the  enclofure,  with  the  fea  at 
adiitance,  on  which  fqmetimes  appeared  a  vef- 
fe  amving  from  Europe  or  returning  thither. 
On  this  rock  it  was  that  the  two  families  af- 
fembled   m  the  evening,  and  enjoyed,  in  fi- 
lence,  the  coolnefs  of  the  air  the   " 
or  the  flnuvrc.  tl->^  U«K?^I: _r.i 


+  the  bubb]i"g  of  the  fountains, 

and  the  lafl  harmonies  of  light  and  ftade. 

3thmg  could  he  more  agreeable  than  the 
names^mpofed  on  the  gretteft  part  of  the 
charming  retreats  of  this  labyrinth.  The 
rock  of  which  I  have  juft  now  been  fpeaking, 
from  whence  they  could  difcern  my  approach, 
at  a  considerable  diftance,  was  called \Frlenl 
^psD^cry.  Paul  and  Virginia,  in  their 
fportiveaefs,  had  planted  a  bamboo  upon  it, 


46  PAUL  AMD  VIRGINIA. 

on  the  fummit  of  \vhich  they  hoifted  a  fmali 
white  handkerchief,  as  a  fignal  of  my  arrival 
as  foon  as  they  perceived  me ;  in  imitation 
of  the  flag,  which  is  diipkyed  on  the  neigh 
bouring  mountain,  on  feeing  a  vdTel  at  fca. 
I  took  a  fancy  to  engrave  an  infcription  on  the 
flem  of  this  reed.  Whatever  pleafure  I  may 
have  enjoyed  in  the  courfe  of  my  travels,  in 
contemplating  a  ftatue,  cr  a  monument  of 
antiquity,  I  have  enjoyed  ftill  more  in  peru* 
fing  a  well-conceived  infcription.  It  fecms  to 
me,  in  that  cafe,  as  if  a  human  voice  iiTued 
out  of  the  ilone,  made  itfelf  audible  through 
the  mighty  void  of  ages,  and  addrcffing  itfelf 
to  man,  in  the  midft  of  deferts,  told  him  that 
he  was  not  alcne  ;  and  that  other  men,  in 
thefe  very  places,  had  felt,  thought  and  fuf. 
fered  like  himfelf.  Should  it  happen  to  be 
the  infcription  of  fome  ancient  nation,  which 
fubfiils  no  longer,  it  conveys  our  foul  into  the 
regions  of  infinity,  and  communicates  to  it  the 
fentiment  of  its  own  immortality,  by  (now. 
ing  that  a  thought  has  outlived  the  ruins  even 
of  an  empire. 

1  infcribed,  then,  on  the  little  maft  \vhioh 
carried  the  flag  of  Paul  and  Virginia,  thcfe 
verfesof  Horace: 

....Fratres  Helena,  hcida  fidera, 
Ventorumque  regat  Pater, 
ahis,  prxtcr  lapyga? 


AND  VIRGINIA.  41 

*'  May  the  brothers  of  Helen,  flars  radi 
ant  like  yourielves,  and  may  the  Ruler  of  the 
winds,  direct  your  courfe  ;  binding  up  every 
ruder  blaft,  and  filling  your  fails  only  with  the 
breath  of  the  Zephyr.'* 

1  engraved  the  following  line  from  Virgil* 
on  the  rind  of  a  tatamaque  under  the  fhade  of 
which  Paul  fometimes  fat  down,  to  contem 
plate,  from  afar,  the  agitated  ocean  : 

Fortunatus  ct  ilie,  decs  qui  novit  agreftes ! 

t(  Happy  too  is  he,  in  knowing  no  deities^ 
but  thofe  who  make  the  plains  their  care  !" 

And  that  other,  over  the  door  of  Madame 
de  la  Tour's  cottage,  which  was  the  place 
of  general  rendezvous  : 

At  fecura  quies,  ct  nefcia  faikre  vita. 
"  Peace  undiflurbed,  and  hearts  devoid  of  guile." 

But  Virginia  did  not  approve  of  my  Latin ; 
fhe  faid,  that  the  infer iption  which  I  had  pia« 
c.ed  below  her  weathercock,  was  too  long* 
and  too  learned.  I  ihould  have  rather  pre 
ferred  this,  added  {he  :  Always  agitated*  but 
evtr  con  ft  ant.  That  device,  replied  I>  is  ftil! 
better  adapted  to  virtue.  My  obfervation 
excited  a  blufh  on  her  cheek. 

Thefe  happy  families  extended  their  be- 
acvolent  difpoiltions  to  all  that  furrounded 


4S  PAUL  AKD    VIRGINIA. 

them.  They  beftowed  the  moil  tender  ap 
pellations  on  objects  apparently  the  moll  in* 
different.  To  an  enclofurc  of  orange-trees, 
and  bananas,  planted  in  fcrm  of  a  circle, 
round  a  portion  of  molly  ground,  in  the  mid 
dle  of  which  Paul  and  Virginia,  fometimes 
ufed  to  dance,  they  gave  the  name  of,  'The 
Concord,  An  ancient  tree,  under  the  (hade 
of  which  Madame  de  la  Tour  and  Margaret 
related,  to  each  other,  their  misfortunes,  was 
called,  The  tears  wiped  away.  They  gave 
the  names  of  Brittany  and  Normandy  to  final! 
fpots  of  ground,  where  they  had  planted 
corn,  ftrawberries,  and  peaie.  Domingo  and 
Mary,  wi thing,  after  the  example  of  their  mii" 
treiTes,  to  call  to  remembrance  tbe  places  oi 
their  birth  in  Africa,  denominated  two  piece? 
of  ground,  where' that  grafs  grew  of  whicl" 
they  made  bafkets,  and  where  they  had  plant 
ed  a  great  gourd,  Angola  and  Feuliepointe 
Thus,  by  thefe  productions  of  their  own  cK 
mates,  thefe  exiled  fa,  vlih-jd  foru 

ideas  of  their  native  country,  and  foothe< 
their  forrows  in  a  foreign  Innd.  Alas  ! 
have  feen  the  trees,  the  f on  mains,  the  rockr 
of  this  fpot,  now  fo  changed,  animated  by  ; 
thoufand  charming  appellations ;  but  in  the! 
prefent  Mace,  like 'a  Grecian  plain,  jhey  onl" 
prefent  tc  view;  .  ,  iiid  heart^dBfe^ting  ir 
fern  ; 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  49 

Of  the  whole  enclcfure,  however,  no  >fpot 
was  more  agreeable  than  that  which  went  by 
the  name  of  Virginia's  Reft.  At  the  foot  of 
the  rock,  named,  The  Difcovery  of  Friendfrrip* 
is  a  hollow  place,  whence  iflues  a  fountain* 
\vhich  forms,  from  its  iburce,  a  little  lake,  in 
the  middle  of  a  meadow  of  fine  grafs.  When 
Margaret  had  brought  Paul  into  the  world, 
I  made  her  a  prefent  of  an  Indian  cocoa-nut, 
which  had  been  given  me.  ,  She  planted  this 
on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  intending  that  the 
tree  which  it  ihould  produce,  might  ferve, 
one  day,  as  an  epocha  of  her  fon's  birth. 
Madame  de  la  Tour,  after  her  example,  plant 
ed  another  there  lib;  \\aYe,  with  a  iimilar  in 
tention,  as  foon  as  ihe  was  delivered  of  Vir 
ginia.  From  thefe  nuts  grew  two  cocoa-trees, 
which  formed  the  whole  archives  of  the  two 
families  ;  one  was  called  the  tree  of  Paul,  the 
other  that  of  Virginia.  They  both  grew 
in  the  lame  proportion  as  their  young  malter 
and  mtftfefs,  of  a  height  rather  unequal,  but 
which  iVirpa&d,  at  the  end.  of  twelve  years, 
that  ot  the  cottages.  Already  they  interwOve 
their  branches,  and  dropped  their  young  cluf- 
ters  ci  cocoas,  over  the  baibn  of  the  fountain. 

*his  -.-,.,   :  , . :  .     -:d,  they  had  left  the 

cavity  of  the  rock  jufc  as  nature  had  adorned 
it.  On  ks  brown  and  humid  fides,  radiated, 
in  green  and  dully  ftars,  large  plants  of 
,-hair,  and  tufts  of  the  jfcoiopendra, 
Ei 


50  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

fufpended  like  long   ribands   of   a  greer:"h 
purple,  waved  at  the  pleaiiire  of  the  v 
Near  to  that,  grew  long  ftripes  of  the  rer> 
winkle,  the  flowers  of  which  nearly 
thole  of  the  red  ,,         .   iver,   and  pime; ; 
whofe  blood  c  .  han 

coral.  Round  about  thefe,  the  platits  of 
balm,  with  their  leaves  refembling  i  heart, 
and  the  bafilicons,  with  a  carnation  fmell,  ex 
haled  the  fweeteit  of  perfumes.  From  the 
fummit  of  the  rugged  precipices  cf  vhe 
mountain,  hung  the //>/,v.r  . : tin »  dra 

pery,  which  formed,  c\ 
large  f  eft  cons  of    verdure.       The  fea-b". 
attracted  by  thefe   peaceful  retreats,   flocked 
thither  to  pafs  the  night.     At  fun-fet,  you 
might  fee  the  rook  and"  the  fea  lark  fly  along 
the  fhoreof  the  fea  ;  and,iigh  in    air,  the 
black  frigate  and  the  white  bird  of  the  trop 
ics,  which  abandon,  together  with  the  orb  of 
day,  the  folitudes  of  the  Indian  Ocean. 

Virginia  delighted  to  repofe  her 'elf  on  the 
borders  of  this  fountain,  decorated  wirh  a 
pomp  at  cnce  magnificent  and  wild.  Thith 
er  did  fhe  often  refort,  to  wafn  the  -liren  c£ 
the  family,  under  the  fhade  of  the  two  cccoa- 
trees  ;  and  fometimes  fhe  led  her  goats  ta 
paflure  there.  While  fhe  prepared  checks  of 
their  milk,  fhe  took  delight  to  fee  vhc-m 
browfe  on  the  maiden-hair,  which  grew  on 
the  iteep  fides  of  the  rock,  and  fufpend  them- 


PATH-  AND  VIRGINIA,  52 

fares'  in  the  air,  on  one  of  its  cornices,  as  oa 

:  liilal. 

i,  perceiving  diis  to  be  the  favourite 
reireut  of  Virginia,  brought  .thither,  from 
tl'ie  neighbours: :~  I.T --:t,  the  ricits  of  ail  kinds 
cf  birds.  The  parents  of  thefe  birds  follow 
ed  their  young  ones,  and  eftablifhed  them- 
feives  in  this  new  colony.  Virginia  icattcred 
among  them,  from  time  to  time  grains  of  rice, 
cf  rruiise,  and  of  millet.  As  foon  as  fhe 
appeared,  the  \vhiiiiing  blackbirds,  the  ben- 
gali,  whole  warbling  is  fo  fweet,  and  the  car 
dinal,  with  his  flame-colored  plumage,  left 
bullies ;  the  paroquets,  as  green  as  the 
emerald,  defcended  from  the  neighbouring 
lataniers;  the  partridges  ran  nimbly  along  the 
grais  :  all  haltened,  in  variegated  groups,  to 
her  very  feet,  like  little  chickens,  while  Paul 
and  flic  amufed  themfelves,  with 'tranfport,  at 
their  playfuinefs,  their  appetites,  and  their 
loves. 

Amiable  children,  thus  did  you  pafs  your 

early  days,  in  perfect  innocence,  and  employ- 

:;f  virtue  !   How  many. 

.  Ipot,  did  your  mothers,  folding 

you  in  their  arms,  give  thanks  to  Heaven,  for 

the  coniblation  which  you  were  preparing  for 

*"-.•->  old  age,  and  at  feeing    you   enter  into 

under  aufpices  fo  happy !     How  many 

times,  under  the  fhade  cf  thefe  rocks,  have  I 

partaken,  with  them,  your  rural  rtpail,  by 

E  2 


'2,  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

\vhich  no  animal  was  deprived  cf  life ! 
Gourds  filled  with  milk,  frefh  eggs,  cakes  of 
rice  ferved  up  on  the  leaves  of  the  banana 
tree,  bafkets  filled  with  pccatoes,  mangoes, 
oranges,  pomcgrr.  and 

pine -apples,  ,  :  •:',  nour- 

ifhing  aliment,  the  ~,  in<i  the  molt 

agreeable  juices. 

Their   converfation  wrr         .' '•  • .  •_•_    a-d  as 
innocent  as  the  rep  stjuefttly  talk 

ed  of  the  labors  of  the  day  pail,  and  of  thole  cf 
to-morrow ;  he  was  always  meditating  fome- 
thing  \vhichwcTiIdbe  fubfervient .  to  the  gen 
eral  good:  here,  the  paths  were  not  coniniodi- 
ous ;  there,  they  vwe  ii:dl£ci-ently  icated ; 
thefe  yov.  iid  not  give  a  fufricient 

fha.de;  T-  .    '-'li  be  more  comfortable 

there. 

In-th:j  rainy  fj^n,  in  the  day-time,  they 
aflembled  all  r,  in  the  cortn^e,  mafc 

ters  and  fervant.s,  ancUr  .-in 

weaving  mafe  -.e,  and  baikets  of 

bamboo.     Yc,  -yed,  in  the  moit 

perfect  order /along  the  boards  of  the  wall, 
rakes,  hatchets,  fpades ;  and  ciole  by  thefe 
inflniments  of  agriculture,  the  preclusions 
which  were  the  fruit  of  them,  bags  of  rk e, 
fheaves  of  corn,  and  rows  of  bananas.  Del 
icacy  was  there  ever  blended  wrh  ubv^da^re, 
Virginia,  ail! (led  by  the  iiiftrn.c  •  -  |  -  •- 

ga/ct  and  her  mother,  amufed  htricii  with. 


AND  VIRGINIA,  53 

preparing    fherbets,   and  cordials,  with  the 
mice  of  the  fu^ar-  cane,  Of  citrons,  and  of  ce- 


When  night  arrived,  they  fupped  by  the 

fKmmering    light  of  a  lamp  :  after  which 
:e  die  la  Tour,    or  Margaret,  related 
,:;rr&s  of  travellers,  who  had  loft  theif 
./  night.   in  th-  forelts  of  Europe,  in- 
fefted  by  "••  ;  or  of  the  ihip  wreck  of  fome 

veflel,  drive;  r  by  the  tempest  on  the  rocks  of 
a  defer*:  iflanci.  On  hearing  melancholy  de* 
tails  of  this  kind,  the  hearts  of  there  fenfible 
young  folks  caught  fire.  r^hey  implored  of 
Heaven  the  grace,  to  put  in  practice,  one  day, 
•tics  of  hofpitalicy  to  unhappy  perfons 
in  fut.h  circurmitances.  Meanwhile  the  two 
famines  feparaied,  to  'enjoy  the  gift  of 
but  in  the  ardor  of  impatience  to  meet  again 
the  next  morning.-  Sometimes  they  were 
lulled  to  reil>  by  the  noiie  of  rain  rufliing 
hi  torrents  on  the  roof  of  their  cottages  | 
or  by  ::ngof  the  winds,  v/hich  con- 

'  their  ears,  the  dutant  murmuring 
,  which  broke  upon  the  fhore. 
i  giving    thanks  to  GOD  for 
:ial  fecurity,  the  feutiment  of  v,iiich 
^ned  by  that  of  danger 
. 

.  de  la  Tour,  from  tirr 
It  '  "o   the  company  fome  intereittng 

ortion   ol    .he   hiftory  of  the  Old   cr 


54  PAUL  ANS  VIRGINIA, 

Teftament.  They  reafoned  fp^rmgly  on  the 
Subject  of  thole  lac  red  bocks;  for  their  the- 
ology  ccnfiitcd  wholly  in  ientimtnt,  like  that 
Cz  nature  ;  and  their  morality,  wholly  in  ac- 

live  benevolence,  1:  of  the  roipcL — 

rpi  i 

iney  had  no  days  deitmed,  iome  r.o  mirth, 

others  to  melancholy.  Every  day  was,  to 
them,  a  feafbn  of  feltivliy,  and  every  thing 
that  lurrounded  them  a  divine  temple,  in 
•which  they  inceifantly  admired  an  Intelli 
gence  infinite,  omnipotent,  and  gracioufly 
diipoied  toward  man.  This  fentirr.ent  of  con 
fidence  in  the  Fewer  Supreme,  filled  them 
with  confolaticn  refpecling  the  paft,  with 
fortitude  for  the  prefent,  and  with  hope  for 
the  time  to  come,  Thus  it  was  that  thefe 
females,  conllrained  by  calamity  to  fall  back 
into  nature,  had  unfolded  in  thtmielves,  and 
in  their  children,  thcfe  "teiii'.gs  \\hichare  the 
gift  of  nature,  to  prevent  our  linking  under 
the  preflure  of  calamity. 

But  as  there  fcmetimes  arife,  in  the  beft 
regulated  fpirit,  clouds  to  difhirb  its  ierciaty, 
when  any  member  of  this  iccieiy  had  ihc 
appearance  of  peniivenefb,  all  the  red  ielt 
attracted  toward  that  one,  and  diiTipated  the 
bitternefs  of  thought,  rather  by  feelings,  tl'*an 
by  reflexions.  Each  exerted,  to  this  eiiecl, 
tlieir  particular  character  :  Margaret,  a  lively- 
gaiety  ;  Madame  de  la  Tour,  a  mild  theology; 
Virginia,  tender  cardies ;  Paul,  frankneis 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  r5 

and  cordiality.  Nay,  Mary  and  Domingo 
contributed  their  (hare  of  confolation.  When 
they  beheld  afHidion,  they  were  aiEicted  ; 
when  thef  favv  tears  ilied,  they  wept.  Thus 
the  feeble  plants  interlace  their  boughs,  in 
order  to  refill  the  violence  of  the  hurricane. 
When  die  weather  was  fine,  they  went 
every  Sunday  to  mafs,  to  the  church  of  Pam- 
pieinoufles,  the  tower  of  which  you  fee  below 
in  the  plain.  The  wealthy  planters  reforted 
thither  in  their  palanquins  ;  and  made  many 
efforts  to  form  an  acquaintance  with  thefe 
happily  united  families,  and  invited  them  to- 
partake  of  their  parties  of  pleafure.  But 
they  uniformly  declined  accepting  iuch  ten 
ders,  civilly  and  refpectfully,  under  the  cqn- 
vi&ion,  that  perfons  of  confequence  court  the 
obfcure,  only  for  the  pleafure  of  having  com 
pliant  hangers-on,  and  that  it  is  im'poffible  to 
be  coiTiplaitant,  but  by  flattering  the  paillons 
of  another,  whether  they  be  good  or  bad. 
On  the  other  hand,  they  fhunneci,  with  no  lefs 
circurnlpedlicvi,  all  intimacy  with  the  lower 
:  -inrs,  who  are,  for  the  moil  part,  jeal- 
tck  biters,  and  vulgar.  They  palled, 
at  fird,  with  one  of  thofe  fets,  for  timid  ;  and 
with  the  other,  for  haughty;  but  their  re- 
ferved  behaviour  was  accompanied  with 
marks  of  politenefs  fo  obliging,  efpecially  to 
perfons  in  diftrefs,  that  they  imperceptibly 
acquired  the  refpecl  of  the  rich,  and  the  con 
fidence  of  the  poor. 


56  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

When  mafs  was  over,  they  were  frequently 
fought  unto,  for  the  interposition  of  fome.gr  a- 
cicus  office  or  another.  It  was  a  perfbn  m 
perplexity,  who  applied  to  them  for  iheirkbd 
advice ;  or  a  child,  importuning  them  to  vifit  a 
fick  mother,  in  one  of  the  adjoining  hamlets. 
They  always  carried  abcut  them  feme  re 
ceipts  adapted  to  the  difeafes  incident  to 
the  inhabitants,  and  they  admrciftered  thsir 
prefcripticES  with  that  gocd  grace  which 
communicates  fuch  a  value  to  :ir.aii  fervices, 
They  iucceeded,  particularly,  in  curirg  the 
maladies  oi  the  xnind,-fo  cpprtflive  m  aflate 
of  folitude,  and  an  infirm  flate  of  body.—- < 
Madame  de  la  Tour  fpoke  with  fc  much  con 
fidence  of  the  DEITY,  ihat  the  fick-  perfcn, 
liilcning  to  her  di'courfe,  felt  the  imprttl'icn  of 
his  preience.  ,  From  thefe  viiitc  Virginia  fre 
quently  re  turned  wiih  her  eyes  bathed  in 
tears,  hut  her  heart  overflowing  with  joy ; 
for  ihe  had  bt-er.  blcff^d  with  an  opportunity  o£ 
doing  goo  d.  Che  it  was.  who  prepared,  before 
hand,  the  medicines  necerTary  to  the  fick,  and 
who  prefented  them  with  a  grace  ineffable. 

After  thofe  viiits  of  humanity,  they  feme- 
times  extended  iheir  walk,  by  the  valley  of 
.  ng  mountain,  as  far  as  rny  habitation, 
where  I  expected  them  to  dinner,  on  the  banks 
of  the  little  river,  which  flows  in  my  neigh- 
:iood.     I  provided  myielf,  for  fuch  oc- 
&«  us,  with  feme  bottles  of  old  wine,  in  cr- 


PAUL  ANO  VIRGINIA.  57 

der  to  enliven  the  gaiety  of  our  Indian  repafts* 
>y  thofe  pleafant  and  cordial  productions  of 
Europe.  At  other  times,  we  had  our  ren 
dezvous  on  the  fhore  of  the  lea,  at  the  mouth 
of  fome  other  fmall  rivers,  which,  in  this  part 
of  the  world,  can  hardly  be  called  any  thing 
more  than  a  larger  kind  of  brook.  Thither 
we  carried,  from  the  plantation,  various  kinds 
of  vegetable  provifion,  which  we  added  to 
the  abundant  Supplies  furniihed  by  the  ocean. 
We  fifhed  along  the  fhore  for  robots,  poly- 
pufes,  lobfters,  roaches,  ihrimps,  crabs,  ur- 
:hins,  oyiiers,  and  iheli-fifti  of  every  kind. — 
Situations  the  moil  terrible  frequently  pro 
cured  us  pleafures  the  mod  tranquillizing. 
Sometimes,  feated  on  a  rock,  under  the  Iliads 
of  a  velvet-tree,  we  contemplated  the  billows, 
from  the  main,  rolling  on,  and  breaking  un 
der  our  feet,  with  a  tremendous  roar.  Paul, 
who,  befide  his  ctker  qualities,  could  fwim 
like  u  fiih,  now  and  then  advanced  upon  the 
ihaliows,  to  meet:  the  large,  then,  as  it  ap 
proached,  fled  toward  the  ihore,  purlued  by 
its  vail,  foaming,  ?.nd  raging  i'well,  a  confid* 
erable  way  up  die  itrand.  But  Virginia,  as 
often  the  law  this,  icreamed  aloud,  and  de» 
clared  that  fuch  kind  of  amufement  terrified 
her  exceedingly. 

Our  meals  were  followed  up  by  the  fmging 
and  dancing  of  thefe  two  young  people.  Vir 
ginia  chanted  the  felicity  of  a  rural  "life,  and 


J8  PAUL  AN»  VIRGINIA, 

the  wrethednefs  of  fea-faring  men,  \vhom  av-j 
arice  prompts  to  encounter  a  furious  element,! 
rather  than  cultivate  the  earth  which  confei 
fo  many  benefits,  in  peace  and  tranquillity 
Sometimes,  after  the  manner  cf  the  ncgrre0 
Paul  and  fhe  ^o:  "orirfed  a  pantomime. 
tomime  is  the  fir  it  language  of  man  5    it  -i 
practifed  among  all  rations,     It  is  fo  natura 
and  fo  expreflivt',  that  the  children  bf 
whites  quickly  lesm  it,  fror.:  foeij 
the  blacks  i^us  amufe  thcrn.M.lvts.     \ 
recollecting  the  hiftcries  which  her  n-fcther 
tifed  to  read,   thofe  efpecislly  which  bad  af* 
feded  her  the  moft,  exhibited  the  principal 
events  of  them,  with  much  natural  exjrcf- 
fion.    Sometimes,  to  the  icuncl  of  Domingo's 
tam-tam,  {lie  made,   her  £tjjc:irance  en  die 
downy  ftage,  bearirg  a  pitcher  en  1s-  r  head. 
6he  advanced,  wiih  timidity,  to  £11  it  with 
waiter  at  the  fdurce  of  ?i  nelghbcuring  fcnn- 
tain.     pomirgo  and  Mary,  reprefcntirg  thfe 
ihepherds  cf  Midiar,  olitr^eed  :  . 

and  feign'  d       i   J  '.1  her,     Paril  ficw  to  her 
affiftance,  beat  off  the  fbepjjerds,    i 
pitcher  of  Virginia,  and  placed  it  r.; 
head,  at  the  lame   time  bound  arcu: 
garland  of  the  fcarlet    f  ov/ers  of  the  peri 
winkle,  which  heightened  the  fasmefs  cf  her 
ccmplexicn.    Then,  taking  a  part  in^th-ir  in- 
&c< at  -', rrts;  I  affuincd  the  cbaradet cf  Ra- 


AND  VIRGINIA,  & 

I,  and  belt  owed  on  Paul,  my  daughter 
Lipporah  in  marriage*. 

At  another  time,  ke  reprefented  the  unfor- 
:unat;e  Ruth,  who  returns  to  her  country,  a 
>w,  ar.d  in  poverty,  where  fhe  finds  her- 
df  treated  as  a  liran^cr,  after  a  long  abfeuce* 
i>r,:ni;-gc  and  Mary  a&e-d  the  part  of  the 
gapers.    Virginia  appeared,  gleaning  up  and 
down  after  them,  and  picking  up  the  ears  of' 
:ora.     Pauly  Imitating  the  gravity  of  a-JPa- 
; } v.:r ;  fhe,  trembling,  replU 
:a  -:G  his  qgeftions/  Moved  with  ccmpaflion, 
te  irnraediaceiy  granted  an  afyium  to  inno- 
:ence,  and  the  rights  of  hofpitality  to  misfor- 
:une.     He  filled  Virginia's  apron  with  pro* 
^iiions  of  every  kind,  and  broughjt  her  before 
as,  as  before  the  elders' cf  the  city,  declaring 
"hat  he  took  her. to  wife,  notv/itliiianding  her 
xtrerne  indigence.     At  this  fcene,  Madame 
dc  Aa  Tour,  c  J  i       'c  remembrance  the  ftate 
i      :t:cr.  in  v;;:        :      had  been  left  by  her 
-•"-   ^latiQtis^  h-r  v. •.:;., -whood,  the  kin$  re* 
LOB  whhn  :.v,     ar,<     had  given  hei%  now 
>          i  a  happy  union  be* 
.ween  their  i  Hi     .   LI,  could  not  refrain  from 
teiirs  :   and.  t]   .         -.;^d  recolleclion  of  good 
and  evil,  drew,  from  the  eyes  of  us  all,  the 
tears 'of  forrow  and  of  joy, 

Thefe  dramas  were  exhibited  with  fuch  a 
.i-:h  of  expreffion,  that  we  aclually  imagined 
.reives  :ra::.iportcd  to  the  plains  of  Syria^, 


Co  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

or  of  Paleftine.  There  was  no  want  of  deco 
rations,  of  illuminations,  and  of  orcheftras 
fuitable  to  this  fpe&acle.  The  place  of  the 
fcene  ufuaily  was  at  the  crofs  paths  of  a  fore  ft 
the  openings,  of  which  formed  around  us  fev 
eral  arcades  of  foliage.  We  \vere  at  their 
centre  flickered  frcm  the  heat,  all  the  day 
long  :  but  when  the  fun  had  defc ended  to  the 
horizon,  his  rays  broken  by  the  trunks  of  the 
trees,  diverged  into  the  (hades  of  the  foreft, 
in  Jong,  luminous  emanations,  which  pro 
duced  the  znoft  majeflic  effect.  Sometimes, 
his  complete  difk  appeared  at  the  extremity 
cf  an  avenue,  and  rendered  it  quite  dazzling 
with  a  tide  of  light.  The  foliage  of  the 
trees,  illui||pn.ed  on  the  under  fide  with  his 
faffren-cciored  rays,  fparkled  with  the  fires 
of  the  topaz,  and  of  the  emerald.  Their 
mofTy  and  brown  trunks  feemed  to  be  tranA 
formed  into  columns  of  antique  bronze,  and 
the  birds,  already  retired  in  filence,  under  the 
dark  foliage,  for  the  night,  furprized  by  the 
fight  of  a  new  Aurora,  faluted,  all  at  once, 
the  luminary  of  the  day,  by  a  thoufand  and 
a  thoufand  fongs. 

The  night  very  often  fnrprifed  us  regaling 
ourfjlves  with  thefe  rural  fe divides  s  but  the 
purity  of  the  air,  and  the  mildnefs  of  the 
climate,  permitted  us  to  fieep  under  an  ajou- 
pa,  in  the  midil  of  the  woods,  free  from  all 
fear  of  thieves,  either  at  hand,  or  at  a  dif- 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

tance.  Every  ore  returned,  next 
to  his  own  cottage,  and  found  it  in  the  fame 
flate  in  which  it  had  been  left.  There  reign 
ed,  at  that  time,  fo  much  honefly  and  fimpli- 
city,  in  this  uncommercial  iiland,  that  the 
doors  of  many  houfes  did  not  fatten  by  a  key, 
arid  a  lock  was  an  object  of  curicfity  to  ma 
ny  Creoles. 

But  there  were  certain  days  of  the  year 
celebrated  by  Paul  and  Virginia,  as  feafons 
of  peculiar  rejoicing  5  thefe  were  the  birth 
days  of  their  mothers.  Virginia  never  failed, 
the  evening  before,  to  bake  and  drefs  cakes 
of  the  flower  of  wheat,  which  fne  fent  to  the 
poor  families  of  whites,  born  in  the  ifland, 
who  had  never  tafied  the  bread  of  Europe, 
and  who,  without  any  arMance  from  the 
blacks,  reduced  to  live  on  maize,  in  the  midrt 
of  the  woods,  poiTcfTed,  toward  the  fupport 
of  poverty,  neither  the  fhipidity,  which  is  the 
concomitant  of  flavery,nor  the  courage  which 
education  uifpires. 

^ Thefe  cakes  were  the  only  prefents  which 
Virginia  had  it  in  her  power  to  make,  of  the 
affluence  of  the  plantation  ;  but  they  were 
beftowed  with  a  grace,  which  greatly  en 
hanced  their  value.  Firft,  Paul  himfeif  was 
defired  to  undertake  the  charge  of  prefen ting 
them  to  thole  families,  and  they  were  invited, 
on  receiving  them,  to  come  on  the  morrow, 
and  pafs  the  day  at  the  habitation  of  Ma- 
F 


6*  PAUJU  AND  VIRGINIA* 

dame  de  la  Tour  and  Margaret.  There  ar 
rived,  accordingly,  a  mother,  with  two  or 
three  miferable  daughters,  yellow,  meagre, 
and  fo  timid,  that  they  durft  not  lift  up  their 
eyes.  Virginia,  prefdntly  fet  them  all  at  their 
eafe :  fhe  ferved  them  with  a  variety  of  re* 
freihments,  the  goodnds  of  which  flie  height- 
ened  by  feme  particular  circumftances,  that, 
according  to  her,  increafed  its  -relifh.  That 
liquor  had  been  prepared  by  Margaret  ;  this 
one  by  her  mother ;  her  brother  himfelf  had 

fathered  that  trait  on  the  fummit  of  the  tree. 
he  prevailed  on  Paul  to  lead  them  out  to 
dance.  She  never  'gave  over  till  fhe  faw 
them  content  and  happy.  It  was  her  wifh, 
that  they  fliould  become  joyful  in  the  joy 
of  the  family.  "  No  one,"  faid  fhe,  "can 
find  happinefs  for  himfelf,  but  in  promoting 
the  happinefs  of  another."  On  taking  their 
leave,  to  return  home,  flic  preffed  them  to 
carry  away  any  thing  which  itemed  to  have 
given  them  peculiar  fatisfaftion,  veiling  the 
neceffity  of  accepting  her  prefer!  Burner  the 
pretext  of  their  novelty,  or  of  ?'.  -  /:lar- 
ity.  If  fhe  remarked  their  clothes  to  be  f.x- 
ceffively  tattered,  fhe,  with  the  confexit  of  her 
mother,  fele«fled  fome  of  her  own,  arid  charg 
ed  Paul  to  go  by  fteali.h,  and  depofit  them- 
at  ti:e  door  of  their  cottages.  Thr.s,  fhe 
^ood,  after  the  manner  of  the  DEITY  ;, 
concealing  the  bfcnefaftrefs,  and  fliov/ing  the 


t>AUt  ANct  VIRGINIA.  £j 

Ycu,  gentlemen  of  Europe,  \vhofe  minds 
are  tainted,  from  your  early  infancy,  by  j'b 
jnany  prejudices,  IE  compatible  with  happinefs, 
you  are  unable  to  conceive,  how  nature  can 
beftow  fo  much  illnminaticn,   and  fo  many 
pleafures.     Ycur  iculs,  circrmfcribed  within 
a  imall  fphere  of  human  knowledge,  fccn  at» 
tain  the  term  or  their  artificial  enjoyments  j 
but  nature  and  the  heart  are  inexhauftible. 
Paul  and  Virginia  had  no  time-pieces,  nor  at- 
manacks,  nor  bocks  of  chronology,  of  hiilo- 
ry,  nor  of  philofophy  :  the  periods   of  their 
lives  were    regulated  by  thoie  of  nature.—. 
They  knew  the  hour  of  the  day  by  the  fhad* 
ow  of  the  trees  ;    the  feafcns,  by  the  time* 
when  they  produced  their  flowers,  or   their 
fruits ;  and  years,  by  the   number  of  their 
harvefts.     Thefe  delightful  images  diffused 
the  greateft  charms  over  iheir  converfation* 
"  It  is  dinnertime,"   {aid   Virginia  to    th-e 
family,  "  the  fhadows  of  the  bananas  are  at 
their  feet;"  or  elfe,  "  night  approaches,   for 
the  tamarinds  are    clofing   their  leaves»>;— * 
"  When  ikali  v/e  fee  you  f"  faid  fome  of  Her 
companions  of  the  vicinity  to  her;  "At  the 
time  of  the  fugar-canes,"  replied   Virginia  5 
u  Your  vifit  will  be  ftill  nveeter  and  more  a- 
greeable  at  that  time,"  returned  thefe  young 
people,     When  inquiries  were  made  refp eft- 
ing  her  own  age,  and  that   of  Paul,  "'Mjr 
fhe,  «  is.  of  the  fame  age  v,mh 
F  ?/ 


64  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

the  great  cocoa-tree  of  the  fountain,  and  I, 
with  that  of  the  fmall  one.  The  mango- 
trees  have  yielded  their  fruit  twelve  times, 
and  the  orange-trees  have  opened  their  blof- 
foms  twenty-four  times,  fince  I  came  into  the 
world.  Like  Fauns  and  Dryads,  their  lives 
fecmed  to  be  attached  to  thofe  of  the  trees. 
They  knew  no  other  hiftorical  epochs,  but  the 
lives  of  their  mothers  ;  no  other  chronology, 
but  that  of  their  orchards,;  and  no  other 
philofophy,  but  univerfal  beneficence,  and 
reiignation  to  the  will  of  GOD. 

After  all,  what  occafion  had  thefe  young 
people  for  fuch  riches,  and  knowledge,  as  we 
have  learned  to  prize  ?  Their  ignorance  and 
their  wants  were  even  a  farther  addition  to 
their  happinefs.  Not  a  day  pafled,  in  which 
they  did  not  communicate  to  each  ether 
fome  abidance,  or  fome  information  ;  I  re 
peat  it,  information  ;  and  though  it  mijrht 
be  mingled  with  fome  error,  yet  man,  in  a 
ftate  of  purity,  has  no  dangerous  error  to 
fear.  Thus  did  thefe  two  children  of  nature 
advance  in  life  :  hitherto,  no  caro  had  wrin 
kled  their  foreheads,  no  intemperance  had 
corrupted  their  blood,  no  unhappy  paffion 
had  depraved  their  hearts  ;  love,  innocence, 
piety,  were  daily  unfolding  the  beauties  of 
their  foul,  in  graces  ineffable,  in  their  features, 
in  their  attitudes,  and  in  their  motions.  In 
the  morning  of  life,  they  had  all  the  frefk* 


t AUt  AND  VIRGINIA  6$ 

jiffs  of  it :  like  cur  nift  parents,  in  the  gar« 
den  of  Eden,  when,  proceeding  from  the 
hands  of  their  Creator,  they  Taw,  approached* 
and  converfed  with  each  other,  at  flrft,  like 
brother  and  filler.  Virgiraa,  gentle,  modefi:, 
and  confidant  like  Eve  j  Paul  like  Adam, 
with  the  ftature  of  a  man,  and  all  the  fimpli- 
city  of  a  child, 

He  has  a  thcufand  times  told  me,  that 
fornetirnes  being  alone  with  her,  on  his  return 
from  labor,  he  had  thus  addrefledher :  "When 
I  am  weary,  the  'light  of  tLee  revives  me  j 
when  from  the  mountain's  height,  I  deicry 
thee  at  the  bottom  of  this  valley,  thou  appear* 
eft  like  a  rofe- bud  in  the  midft  of  our  or 
chards  ;  when  thou  walked  toward  the  dve)l- 
ing  of  our  mothers,,  the  partridge,  which 
trips  along  to  4ts  ycnng  ones?  has  a  cheft  lefs 
beautiful,  and  a  gait  lefs  nimble,  than  thou 
haft*  Although  I  lofe  fight  of  thee,  through 
the  trees,  there  is  no  cccaiion  for  thy  pre.f- 
ence,  in  order,  to  find  thee  again  :  fomething 
of  thee,  which 'I  ^m  .  unable  to  exprefs,  re 
mains  for  me  in  the  air,  through  which  .thou 
hail  pa^Ted,  and  on  the  grafs  upon  which 
thou  haft  been  feated.  When  I  approach 
thee,  all  my  fenfes  are  raviihed  ;  the  azure 
of  the  heavens  is  lefs  radiant  than  the  blue 
of  thine  eyes  }  the  warbling  of  the  bengali  is 
lefs  fweet  than  the  tone  of  thy  voice  ;  if  I 
touch  thee  only  with  ths  tip  of  my  finger,  my 
F  3 


66  PAUL  AKB  VIRGINIA / 

whole  body  thrills  with  pleafure.  Dofl  thou 
remember  that  day,  on  which  we  paflcd  a- 
crofs  the  pebbly  bed  of  the  river,  of  the 
mountain  called  the  Three  Paps ;  when  I  ar 
rived  on  its  banks,  I  was  very  much  fatigued, 
but  as  foon  as  I  had  taken  thee  on  my  back, 
it  ieemed  as  if  I  had  got  wings  like  a  bird  : 
tell  me,  by  whf  t  charm  thou  haft  been  able 
thus  to  enchant  me  :  is  it  by  thy  underftand- 
ing  ?  Our  mothers  have  more  than  either  of 
us  :  Is  it  by  thy  care/Fes  ?  Our  mothers  em 
brace  me  dill  oftener  than  thou  doll  ;  J  be 
lieve  it  is  by  thy  benevolence  ;  I  fliall  never 
forget,  that  thou  walkedft,  bare -foot,  as  far 
as  the  black  river,  to  iblicit  the  pardon  of  a 
wretched  fugitive  Have.  Receive,  my  much- 
loved  Virginia,  receive  this  flowery  branch 
of  the  lemon-tree,  which  I  have  gathered 
for  thee  in  the  foreft  :  place  it,  at  night,  by 
thy  pillow :  eat  this  morfel  cf  hcr.ey-comb, 
which  I  took  for  thee  from  the  top  of  a  rock, 
Firft,  however,  repofe  thyfelf  upon  rny  bo- 
ibm,  and  I  ihali  be  again  revived." 

Virginia  replied,  "  Oh,  rny  brother  !  the 
rays  of  the  riilng  fun,  on  the  fumrnits  of  thefe 
rocks,  afford  me  lefs  delight  than  thy  pre- 
fence  :  I  love  my  own  mother  dearly  ;  I  love 
thine  ;  bu'c  when  they  call  thee,  fon,  I  love 
them  ftill  more.  The  carafes  which  they 
be  (low  on  thee,  are  felt  more  fennbly  by  me, 
•>  thole  which  I  myielf  receive  from  thexru 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  67 

Thou  aiketl  me,  why  tLou  loved  me  ?  but 
thofe  that  are  reared  togLt..  . 
each  other:  behold  our  birds,  hi 
the  fame  neti,  they  love  like  us?  like  us  t 
are  always  together  :  hearken*  how  they  call 
and  reply  to  each  other,  ficrn  bufh  to  buffi  :- 
in  like  manner.,  when  the  echoes  brin»-  to  my 
ear  the  airs  which  thou  playe'Von  thy  ilure, 
from  the  mountain-top,  1  repent  the  vords  of 
them  at  the  bottom1  of  this  valley  :  the  a  art 
dear  to  me,  but,  above  all,  flnce  that  day  on 
which  thou  wcrt  determined  to  fight  the 
mafter  of  the  Have  for  my  fake  :  fince  that 
period,  I  have  laid,  to  myielf  a  tboufaud  times, 
Ah  !  my  brother  has  an  excellent  heart  ;  bat 
far  him,  I  fhould  have  died  with  terror,  I 
daily  implore  the  blefling  of  the  Almighty 
on  my  own  mother,  and  on  thine,  on  thyielf, 
and  on  our  poor  dome  (tics  :  but  when  1  pro- 
riounce  thy  name,  my  -devotion  leerus  to  in- 
creafe,  I'  fo  earneftly  intreat  the  Almighty 
that  no  evil  may  b^fa!  thee  1  Why  doit  thou 
go  fo  far  off,  and  climb  to  fuch  heights,  to 
End  me  fruits  and  flowers  ?  Have  we  net 


in  what  a  heat,  thou  art  juftncw  :•"  Then, 
with  her  little  white  handkerchief,  flie  wiped 
his  forehead  and  his  cheeks,  and  gave  him  a 
thoufand  ki/Tes. 

Neverthelefs,    for  fome  time  pad,  Virginia 
had  felt  herfelf  difturbed  with  an  unknowu 


£3  PAUL  AND  VIRGIN!/ 

malady.  Her  fine  blue  eyes  were  tir-gea 
with  black,  her  rolour  faded,  and  ;m  univer- 
fa.1  laru  •  .:-.ned  her  bcdy. .  Serenity 

no  } :  r  forehead,  nor  ir. 

upon  her  lip-,  ri  in 

her  ,.  '  .  ;  ;/,  and  iadnejs  without 
furrow.  -  ,  m  her  in- 

:  occupa-- 
:    e 
ily,       She  1 

•  . '...-..,     "  •  ..  ietkirg 

Soipetimesj  at  the 

fight  cf  P.:-.-].  ifc-:  rai;  up  rc^l'^ni,  ;:i  a  play- 
iul  manner  ;  ~~  was 


on  the  point  :  CQntactwiti    him, 

an  T.        .  .     .    -  ..    :.    |     £      .  z       ber  5 

a  lively  red.    - le  cneeks,  and 

her  eyes  nq  1  nger  d  :  ?d  tj;  rx  themfelves 
ca  his.  Pau..  '  .  ;..: ...  .  ,  ber.  <fi  Thefe 
reck.'  are  ccv-_:\:.:  v-::..;  v  .  ;;.;re,  the  birds 
"  :b;j  v;hrr,  '  "••./  ,  :  ..  ;?  gay  around 

thec,  'rind  thcv.         '  :-d."     Thus,  \vith 

embraces,  did  he  endeavour  to  reanimate 
her;  but  fhc«  tv.::.  y  her  head,  flew, 

trembling,    to   h'.r    YI  c  J.t-r.      The  irnha: 
girl  felt  h-rrielf  d^cnipoicci  by  the  careiles  cf 
;her.     Paui  v  as  quite  ignc-imt  of  the 
cauffi  :f  caprices,  ^b  new  and  fo  i  range. 

.'  .  :'  riunss  feidcm  come  iingly.  One  of 
thofe  fummers  which  defolate,  frcm  time  to 
time,  the  land*?  Htuatcd  between  the 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  £9 

c-ened  to  extend  its  ravages  here  ill. Co.    It 
was  toward  the  end  of  December,  when  the 
fun,  in  Capricorn,  fcorches,  with  his  vertical 
fires,  the  whole  Ifle  of  France,  for  three  v;eei'.s 
together;  the  South-Eaft  wind,  which  reign?; 
there  almoft  all  the  year  round,  now  blew  no 
longer.       Huge  whirlwinds   of   dull   railed 
themielves  from  the  highways;  and  hung  iui- 
pended  in  the  air.     The  earth  was  cieft  afun- 
der  in  all  parts,  the  grafs  entirely  burnt  up  ; 
ardent  exhalations  illuad  from  the  fides  of 
the  mountains,  and  moil  of  the  rivulets  were 
dried  up.     No  cloud  arofe  out  of  the  fea  ; 
during  the  day-time,    only,  red  vapours  af- 
cended  above  its  furface,  and  appeared,  at 
(Un-fet,  like  the  flames  of  a  great  r  cvifh.gr  a- 
tion*    Even  the  night  feafon  difliifed  no  cool* 
nefs    over  the    burning    atmosphere.     Tn* 
bloody  diik  of  the  moon  rofe,  of  an  enormous 
fize,  in  the  hazy  horizon  ;  the  languid  Hocks, 
on  the   fides  of  the    mountains,    with  their 
necks  flretched  out  toward  heaven,  and  draw. 
ing  in  the  air  with  difficulty,  made  the  vallies 
reibund  vrith  their  mournful  cries  ;  even  the 
cafre,  who  conducted  them,  lay    along  tl$3 
ground,  endeavouring  to  cool  himieif,  m  that 
pofition.     Every  where  the  foil  was  feorch- 
ing  hot,  and  die  ftifling  air  rcfounded  with 
the  buzzing  of  infefts,  \vhich  fought  to  quench 
their  thtrft  with  the  blood  of  mea,   and  of 


^o  £AUL  AND  vipv. 

One  of  thefc  parching  nights,  Virginia 
felt  all  the  fymptoms  of  her  malady  redouble. 
'She  got  up,  Ine  fat  down,  fhe  returned  to 
bed,  but  in  no  attitude  could  fhe  find  either 
-ileep  or  repofe.  She  rambled,  by  the  light  of 
the  rnoon,  toward  the  fountain  ;  fhe  perceived 
its  fource,  which,  in  defiance  of  the  drought, 
ftill  flowed  in  iilver  fillets,  over  the  dufky 
fides  of  the  rock.  Without  heirtatmg,  fhe 
plunged  her  :.  '  3  its  bafon  5  at  firit,  the 
frclhnefs  re-:  i  her;  and  a  thoufand 

agreeable  re:  rtons  prefented  themfelves 
to  her  mind.  She  remembered  how,  in  the 
'days  of  infancy,  her  mother  and  Margaret 
am"  reives  wich  bathing  Paul  and  her 

in  that  very  ftrearii,andhow  Paul,  afterward?, 
appropriating  this  bath  iblely  to  her  ufe,  had 
deepened  its  bed,  covered  the  .bottcm  with 
(and,  and  lowed  aromatic  herbs  around  its 
brink.  On  her  naked  £.rrns,  and  on  her  bo- 
fom,  fhe  perceived  the  reflexes  of  the  two 
palm-tr-  ^  had  been  planted  at  the 

birch  of  her  brother,  and  at  her  own,  and 
which  now  interwove  :h~:r  :  ^:hs,  and 

their  younr?  cocoas,  over  her  hea.i,  She  call 
ed  to  rcr:  TO  the  iV'  ;  f  Paul, 
i  Vector  than  ~  .:  ^-~  '  .  -'.  -  .  ".va.ter 
of  the  fourita: 

trees,  and  Ine  heaved  2  n.v'h.     She  th",rt  re- 

.  M  -  hat 

;:,    WAJ  :;,  I";i:cuie  ;  a  ecnfurnins;  iirc  inf!irra> 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  n 

4  her  breaft.  Immediately,  fhe  hafb-ned, 
in  difmay,  from  thefe  dangerons  {hades,  and 
from  waters  more  ardent  than  the  funs  of  the 
Torrid  Zone  :  fhe  hurried  to  her  mother,  in 
order  to  feek  refuge  from  herfeif.  A  thou- 
fand  times;  willing  to  difclofe  her  anguifhy 
(he  preffed  her  hands  between  her  own  ;  a 
thoufand  times,  fhe  was  en  the  point  of  pro- 
flouncing  the  name  of  r  t  her  heart 

was  fo  full,  as  to  deprive  her  tongue  of  ut 
terance,  and,  reclining  her  hei^a  cruhe  bofom 
of  her  "mother,  fhe  bedewed  it  with  a  fhowcr 
of  tears. 

Madame  de  la  Tcur  plainly  perceived 
:he  caule  of  her  daughter's  difcrder,  but 
even  ihe  herfeif  had  not  the  courage  to  fpeak 
:o  her  about  it,  "  My  child,"  laid  fhe  to 
her,  "  addrefs  ycurfelf  tc  the  Almighty, 
who  difpenfes  health  and  life,  according  to 
bis  good  pleafure.  Ke  makes  trial  of  your 
drtue  to-day,  only  in  order  to  recompenfb- 
you  to-morrow  ;  confider,  that  the  chief  end 
of  our  being  placed  on  the  earth  is  to  prac- 
tife  virtue. 

In  the  mean  time,  thofe  exceffive  heats,. 
•aifed  out  of  the  bofom  of  the  ocean,  an  af- 
ernbiage  of  vapors,  Vv^hich  like  -a  vaft  para- 
bl,  covered  die  face  of  the  iilanci.  The  fum- 
tnits  of  the  mountains  colleded  thefe  around 
Jiem,  and  long  furrows  of  flame,  from  time 
o  time,  iffued  out  of  their  clgud-capt  peaks. 


?*  PAUL  AN&  V1RGIKIA. 

Frefcntly    after,    tremendous    thimdervclap 

made  i he  v^C'-is  the  plains,  and  the  vallies? 
>ei  ate  the  noift  of  their  explofipjgis.    The 

rain  in  t  a.  traces  gufhed  down  from  the  heav 
ens.  ^  torrents  precipitated   them- 
idves  dov;n  the  fides  of  this  mountain  ;  the 
Bottom  cf  th .  1  ,  :rned  into  a 
fea ;  the         £  rrn,     :.  -  hich    the    cottages 
.        '                           ,  iiland  ;  and  the  en- 
•;.  ...     .  .                          lad  become  a  iluice, 

:   m|h  av  '  luoilty, 

D?  the  s,  L^C  earth? 

the   trees,   and  the  recks. 

The  \vh:  .      .        ,(  ,r..i zed  with  trembling? 
addreffed  th-ir  prayer  to  GOD,  in  Madame 
To :.r.     po$       .     trie    roof    of   which 
Ire?  "by  the  fury  cf  the  tempeil. 

• ...  •;          .  and  the  ouLiide  window- 

.  .  .-./  barred,  every  object  was 

clearly    d  tble    within,  through  the 

joinings  of  the  boards,  fo  bright  and  fo.  fre 
quent  were  the  fiaihes  of  lightning  The  in 
trepid  Paul,  attended  by  Domingo,  went 
from  one  cottage  to  the  other,  notwithiianding 
the  raging  of  th^  elements,  here  fecuring  a 
•  a  crofs  beam,  and  there  by  driving 
:e  ;  he  v,  .  hen,  to 

:   the  f;r    I       J  boDC     of  the 


.  • .   .     .  -.:     j  s  .  •  ,      »;  Trade* 

•wind  fi  om  the  South-Eaft  rtfunicd  iu  uiual 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  73 

current ;  the  ftormy  clouds  were  driven  to 
the  North-Weft,  and  the  letting  fun  appeared 
in  the  horizon. 

The  fir/I  wifh,  which  Virginia  expreiTed,, 
was  to  re-vifit  the  place  of  herrepofe  :  Paul 
approached  her,  with  a  timid  air,  and  offered 
her  his  arm,  to  affift  her  in  walking  thither. 
She  accepted  it,  with  a  fmile,  and  they  fet 
out  together  from  the  cottage  :  the  air  was 
cool  and  fonorous  :  clouds,  of  white  fmoke 
aroie  on  the  ridges  of  the  mountains,  fur 
rowed  here  and  there  by  the  foam  of  the 
torrents,  which  were  now  drying  up  on  every 
fide.  As  for  the  garden,  it  was  entirely  dcfc 
troyed  by  deep  gutters ;  melt  of  the  fruit- 
trees  were  torn  up  by  the  roots  ;  immenfe 
heaps  of  fand  covered  the  (tripes  of  meadow- 
ground,  and  completely  choaked  up  Virgin 
ia's  bath  :  the  two  cocoa-trees,  however, 
were  ftill  Handing,  and  in  full  verdure  :  the 
bowers  and  the  graiTy  turfs  were  no  more,  and 
the  ear  was  no  longer  charmed  with  the  war 
bling  of  the  birds,  except  a  few  bengalis,  on 
the  fumrnlt  of  the  neighbouring  recks,  which 
deplored,  with  plaintive  notes,  the  lofs  of 
their  young1. 

At  fight  of  this  defolation,  Virginia  faid  to> 
Paul,  "  You  brought  the  birds  hither,  and  the 
hurricane  has  deftroyed  them ;  you  planted 
this  garden,  and  it  is  now  no  more  :  every 
thing  ou  earth  pcriflics  j  heaven,  alone,  is  ua- 


$4  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

changeable."  Paul  replied  :  "  Oh  !  then, 
that  it  were  in  my  power  to  beftow  feme  gift 
upon  you  !  But>  alas  !  I  pofTeis  nothing,  now, 
even  on  the  earth."  Virginia,  with  a  bluthj 
returned  :  "  You  have,  certainly,  the  portrait 
of  St.  Paul,  that  you  can  call  your  own." 
Scarcely  had  {he  pronounced  iheie  words, 
when  Paul  flew  to  his  mother's  cottage,  to 
feek  for  it.  This  portrait  was  a  imall  minia 
ture,  reprefenting  Paul  the  hermit.  Margaret 
regarded  it  with  fingular  devotion  :  while  a 
girl,  fhe  wore  it,  long,  round  her  own  neck  ; 
but  when  {lie  became  a  mother,  {lie  fufpcnd- 
ed  it  round  that  of  her  child.  It  happened 
that,  being  pregnant  of  him,  and  abandoned 
by  all  the  world,  from  merely  contemplating 
the  image  of  this  bleiTed  reclufe,  the  fruit  of 
her  womb  contracted  a  ftrong  refemblance 
to  it ;  this  determined  her  to  beftow  the  fame 
name  on  him  ;  and,  likewife,  to  give  him 
for  a  patron,  a  faint  that  had  p ailed  his  life 
far  from  man,  who  had  firfl  abufed,  and 
then  deferted  him.  Virginia,  on  receiving 
thisfmall  portrait  from  rh-j  hands  of  Paul, 
laid,  with  much  em6tion  :  "  My  brother, 
while  I  live,  this  fhail  never  be  taken  from 
me,  and  I  {hall  always  remember,  that  you 
gave  me  the  only  poiTeuion  you  had  in  the 
world."  On  hearing  thofe  tones  of  cordial 
ity,  on  this  unexpected  return  of  familiarity 
and  tendernefs,  Paul  was  going  to  clafp  her  in 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  75 

his  arms  ;  but,  as  nimbly  as  a  bird,  flie 
fprung  away,  leaving  him  quite  confounded, 
and  totally  unable  to  account  lor  a  conduct 
fo  extraordinary. 

Meanwhile,  Margaret  laid  to  Madame  de 
la  Tour  ;  "  Why  ihould  we  not  marry  our 
children  ?  their  paffion  for  each  other  is  ex 
treme  ;  my  ion,  indeed  is  not  yet  fenfiblc  of 
it ;  but  when  nature  fhall  have  begun  to 
fpeak  to  him,  to  no  purpofe  will  we  employ 
all  our  vigilance  over  them  ;  every  thing  is 
to  be  feared."  Madame  de  la  Tour  return 
ed  :  "  They  are  too  young,  a,nd  too  poor  ; 
what  anxiety  would  it  coil  us,  fhould  Vir 
ginia  bring  into  the  world  unhappy  children, 
whom,  perhaps,  (he  would  not  have  ftrength 
to  rear.  Domingo  is  very  much  broken  ;  Ma 
ry  is  infirm  ;  I  myielf,  my  dear  friend,  for 
thefe  laft  fourteen  years,  feel  my  health  very 
much  impaired.  A  perfon  foon  grows  old 
in  thefe  hot  countries,  efpecially  when  that 
period  is  ib  greatly  accelerated  by  forrow. 
Paul  is  our  only  hope  ;  let  us  wait  till  age 
has  ftrengthened  his  constitution,  and  till  he  is 
able  to  fupport  us,  by  the  labor  of  his  hands. 
At  prefent,  you  well  know,  we  have  hardly 
any' thing  ^more,  than  a  fcanty  fuppiy  from 
day  to  day.  But,  if  we  fend  Paul  to  India, 
for  a  fhort  fpace  of  time,  commerce  will  fup- 
ply  him /with  the  means  of  purchafmg  fome 
flaves.  On  his 'return  hither,  we  will  mar- 

G    2 


}6  PAUt  AND  VIRGINIA. 

ry  him  to  Virginia -•;  for  I  am  well  afTured, 
that  no  one  can  make  my  beloved  daughter 
fo  happy,  as  your  fon  Paul.  Let  us  men 
tion  the  matter  to  our  neighbour." 

Thefe  ladies  accordingly  coniulted  me,  and 
I  approved  of  their  plan.  "  The  feas  of  In 
dia  are  delightful,"  laid  I  to  them  ;  "  if  we 
choole  a  favourable  feaibn  for  going  frcm 
hence  to  that  country,  the  voyage,  outward, 
is  but  fix  weeks,  at  mod,  and  as  long  to  re 
turn  ;  we  will  make  up  a  fmall  afibrtment  of 
goods  for  Paul ;  for  I  have  fomc  neighbours, 
who  are  very  fond  of  him  ;  were  we  hut  to 
provide  him  with  a  parcel  of  raw  cotton,  of 
which  we  can  here  make  no  ufe,  for  want  of 
iiulls  to  drefs  it  ;  fome  ebony  wood,  which  is 
fo  common  here,  that  we  ufe  it  for  fuel ;  and 
feveral  ibrts  of  rolin,  which  go  to  xvafte  in 
thefe  woods  ;  all  of  thofe  commodities  will 
find  a  market  in  India,  though  they  arc  of 
no  value  at  all  here." 

I  took  upon  myfelf  the  charge  of  obtaining 
M.  de  la  Bourdonaye's  permifiion  for  this 
embarkation  ;  but  I  thought  it  neceiTary,  be- 
ind,  to  open  the  bufinefs  to  Paul  :  how 
was  I  aftonifKe^,  however,  when  that  young 
jnan  laid  to  me,  with-  a  good  fenfe  far  above 
his  years  :  "Why  would  you  have  me  c]uit  my 
family  for  a  vifionary  project:  of  fortune  ? 
Can  there  be  a  more  advantageous  commerce 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  77 

in  the  world,  than  the  cultivation  of  a  field, 
which  fometimes  yields  fifty  and  a  hundred 
fold  ?  If  we  wifh  to  engage  in  trade,  can  we 
not  do  fo,  by  carrying  our  Superfluities  from 
hence  to  the  city,  without  the  neceility  of  my 
rambling  to  the  Indies  ?  Our  parents  tell  me 
that  Domingo  is  old,  and  worn  out ;  but  I 
am  young,  and  daily  acquiring  frelh  vigour. 
What  if  any  accident  Should  befal  them  du 
ring  my' abfence,  mere  especially  Virginia,, 
who,  even  now,  fuffers  very  Severely  ?  Ah, 
no  !  no  !  I  can  never  bring  myfelf  to  the  re- 
folution  of  quitting  them.'7 

His  anfwer  greatly  embarrafTed  me  ;  for 
Madame  de  la  Tour  had  not  concealed  from 
me  Virginia's  condition,  and  the  defire  which 
(he  herielf  had  of  deferring  their  union  till 
they  were  of  a  more  mature  age,  by  Sepa 
rating  them  from  each  other.  I  duril  not  So 
much  as  hint  to  Paul,  that  fuch  were  her 
motives. 

Whilft  theSe  transaction's  were  going  on,  a 
velTel  newly  arrived  from  France,  brought  a 
letter  to  Madame  de  la  Tour  from  her  aunt. 
The  fear  of  death,  without  which  the  moil 
obdurate  hearts  would  never  Soften,  had  ap 
palled  her.  She  had  juil  recovered  from  a 
dangerous  diforder,  which  produced,  howev 
er,  a  deep  melancholy,  and  which  age  ren 
dered  incurable.  She  requefted  her  niece  to 
re;ura  tt>  France  ;  gr,  if  the  ftate  cf  her 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

health-  was  fuch,  as  to  prevent  her  taking  f. 
long  a  voyage,  fhe  enjoined  her  to  fend  Vir 
ginia  thither,  on  whom  fhe  intended  to  beftc 
a  good  education,  a  place  at  court,  and  abe- 
queil:  of  all  her  poflellioiis  :  the  return  of  her 
favor,  fhe  added,  depended  entirely  on  corn- 
p]  lance  with  thefe  injunctions. 

Scarcely  had  this  letter  been  read,  than 
it  fpread  univerial  conflernationin  the  family ; 
Domingo  and  Mary  began  to  weep  ;  Paul* 
ruotionlefs  with  aftonifhment,  fcemed  ready 
to  burfl  with  rage  ;  Virginia,  her  eyes  fted- 
faftly  fixed  on  her  mother,  dared  not  to  utter 
a  fyllable.  "  Can  you  bring  yourfelf  to  the 
refolution  of  quitting  us  ?"  laid  Margaret  to 
Madame  de  la  Tour.  "  No,  my  friend,  no, 
rny  children/'  replied  Madame  de  la  Tour  ; 
"  I  will  never  leave  you  ;  wiih  you  I  have 
lived,  and  with  you  I  mean  to  die  :  I  never 
knew  what  happinefs  was,  till  I  experienced 
your  friendfliip  ;  if  my  -health  is  impaired, 
ancient  fon'ows  are  the  caiife  :  my  heart  has 
been  pierced  by  the  harflinefs  of  my  relations, 
ar.d  by  ihe  loft  of  my  beloved  hulband  ;  but 
fmcc  that  period,  I  have  enjoyed  more  confo- 
lation  and  felicity  with  you,  in  thcfe  poor  cot 
tages,  than  ever  the  riches  of  my  family  gave 
me  reafon  to  expcft,  even  in  my  native  coun 
try."  At  thefc  words,  tears  of  joy  bedewed 
the  cheeks  of  the  whole  family ;  Paul,  fold* 
ing  Madume  de  la  Tour  in  his  arras,  e£- 


f>AUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  7$ 

claimed  :  "  And  I  Trill  never,  never  quit  you, 
nor  go  from  hence  to  the  indies ;  you  fhall 
experience  no  want,  my  dear  mother,  as  long 
as  we  are  able  to  work  for  you."  Of  ail 
the  fociety,  however,  the  perfon  who  teftified 
the  leaft  joy,  and  who,  neverthelefs,  felt  it 
the  moil,  was  Virginia.  A  gentle  cheerful- 
nefs  appeared  in  her  the  remainder  of  the 
day,  and  the  return  of  her  tranquillity  re 
doubled  the  general  fatisfaclion. 

Next  morning,  at  fun-rife,  as  they  were 
offering  up  their  accuftomed  matin  prayer, 
which  preceded  their  breakfad,  Domingo,  in 
formed  them,  that  a  gentleman,  on  horfe- 
back,  was  approaching  the  plantation,  follow- 
ed  by  two  flaves.  It  was  M.  de  la  Bourdo- 

ve.  He  entered  the  cottage,  where  the 
ivhole  family  were  at  table  :  Virginia  was 
ferving  up,  according  to  the  cuftom  of  the 
country,  cofFee  and  boiled  rice ;  there  were, 
likeWife,  hot  potatoes  and  frefh  bananas  :  the 
only  difhes  which  they  had  were  the  halves 
of  a  gourd  ;  and.  all  their  table  linen  con- 
fitted  of  the  leaves  of  the  plantain.  The 
Governor,  at  firft,  exprefTed  fome  furprife  at 
the  meannefs  of  their  dwelling  ;  then  addref- 
fing  himfclf  to  Madame  de  la  Tour,  he  faid, 
"  That  his  public  fituation  fcrnetimes  pre 
vented  him  from  paying  attention  to  individ 
uals,  but  that  flie, however,  had  a  title  to  claim 
his  more  immediate  regard.  You  have,  ma- 


So  PAUL  AtfD  VIRGINIA. 

dam,"  added  he,  "  an  aunt  at  Pan's,  a  lady 
of  quality  and  very  rich,  who  defigns  to  be- 
flow  her  fortune  upon  you,  but,  at  the  fame 
time,  expels  that  you  will  attend  her."    Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour  replied,  "  That  her  unfettled 
ftate  of  health  would  not  permit  her  to  un 
dertake  fo  long  a  voyage."     "  Surely,  then,'1 
cried  M.  de  la    Bourdonaye,  "  you  cannot 
without   injuftice,  deprive  your  young   an 
beautiful  daughter  of  fo  great  an  inherita 
I  will  not  conceal  from  you,  that  your 
has  employed  authority,  in  order  to 
your  daughter's  compliance  with  her  v 
The  miniiter  has  written  to  me,  on  the 
ject,  authorifmg  me,  if  there  was  any 
iky  for  it,  to  exercife  the  hand  of  power 
my  only  aim  in  employing  that  is,  to  prc 
the  happinefs  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  colo 
ny  ;   I  expect,  therefore,  that  you  will,  with 
cheerfulnefs,  fubmit  to  the  facrifice  of  a  fev 
years,  on  which  depend  the  eftabliflimen 
your  daughter,  and  your  own  welfare,  fo 
remainder  of  life.       For  what  purpofe 
people  refort  to  thefe  Ifiands  ?  Is  it  not  in 
view  of  making  a  for  tune  ?  Surely,  howe 
it  is  far   more  agreeable  to  return,  and 
tain  one  in  cur  native  country." 

As  he  laid  thefe  words,  he    placed 
the  table  a  large  bag  of  piaftr.es,  whicl 
of  his  flaves  had  brought.     "  This,"  adds 
he,  « is  what  your  aun;  has  remitted,, to  rn^ke 


PAU-L  AKD  VIRGINIA.  ti 

the  neceffary  preparations  for  the  voyage  of 
the  young  lady,  your  daughter/7  He  then 
concluded  with  gently  reproaching  Madame 
de  la  Tour,  for  not  having  applied  to  him,  in 
her  neceflities  :  at  the  fame  time,  applauding 
the  noble  firmnefs,  which  Ihe  had  diiplayed. 
Paul,  upon  this,  broke  filence,  and  thus  ad- 
dreifed  the  Governor  :  "  Sir,  my  mother  did 
apply  to  you,  and  your  reception  was  un 
kind  to  the  laft  degree.1'  "  Have  you,  then 
another  child  ;"  laid  M.  de  la  Bourdonaye  to 
Madame  de  la  Tour :  "  No,  Sir,"  replied 
(he  ;  "  this  is  the  fon  of  my  friend  ;  but  he, 
and  Virginia  are  our,  common  property,  and 
-equally  beloved  by  both."  "  Young  man," 
laid  the  Governor,  addreffing  himfelf  to  Paul, 
"  when  you  fftall  have  acquired  experience  of 
the  world,  you  will  learn  to  what  diftrefies 
people  in  place  are  expofed  ;  you  will  dif- 
cover  how  eafy  it  is  to  prejudice  them,  and 
how  often  intrigueing  vice  obtains  from  them 
vrhat,  injuftice,  ihould  be  beftowed  on  con 
cealed  merit." 

M.  de  la  Bourdonaye,  on  the  invitation  of 
Madame  de  la  Tour,  ieated  himfelf  by  her, 
at  the  table.  He  breakfafted,  as  the  Creoles 
do,  upon  coffee,  mixed  with  boiled  rice.  He 
v/as  charmed  with  the  order  and  neatnefs  of 
the  little  cottage,  with  the  union  of  the  two 
happy  families,  and  even  with  die  zeal  of 
their  old  dcrneflics.  "Here,"  faid  he,  "  is 


8i  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

no  furniture,  but  what  the  woods  fupply,  but 
I  fee  countenances  ferene,  and  hearts  of  gold." 
Paul,  delighted  with  the  familiarity  of  the 
new  Governor,  faid  to  him  :  "  I  defire  your 
friendfmp,  for  you  are  an  honeft  man."  M. 
de  la  Bourdonaye  received  this  mark  of  in- 
fular  cordiality  with  pleafure.  He  embraced 
Paul,  and  preffing  him  by  the  hand,  atfured 
him,  that  he  might  rely  upon  his  friendiliip. 

After  breakfaft,  he  took  Madame  de  la 
Tour  apart,  and  informed  her,  that  a  favor 
able  opportunity  juft  now  offered,  of  fending 
her  daughter  into  France,  by  means  of  a  vel- 
\d  on  the  point  of  failing;  and,  that  he  would 
recommend  her  to  the  care  of  a  lady,  a  re 
lation  of  his  own,  who  was  going  paffenger 
in.  it  f  reprefenting,  at  the  fame  time,  that  it 
would  be  very  wrong  to  facrifice  the  profpect 
of  an  immenfe  fortune,  to  the  pleafure  of  her 
daughter's  company  for  a  few  years,  "  Your 
aunt,"  added  he  as  he  was  departing,  "  can- 
not  hold  out  more  than  two  years  longer ; 
her  friends  have  affured  me  of  it :  coniider 
the  matter,  therefore,  ferioufly,  I  pray  you  ; 
confult  your  own  mind  ;  iurely,  every  perfon 
of  common  ienfe  mud  be  of  my  opinion." 
Madame  de  la  Tour  replied  :  "  As  I  defire 
nothing,  henceforward,  but  the  welfare  of  my 
daughter,  the  voyage  to  France  fhall  be  left 
entirely  to  her  own  difpofal." 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  Sj 

Madame  de  la  Tour  was  not  forry,  at  find 
ing  an  opportunity  of  feparadng  Paul  and 
Virginia  for  a  fhort  time  ;  but,  it  was  only  in 
the  view  of  fecuring  their  mutual  happinels, 
at  a  future  period.  She,  accordingly,  took 
her  daughter  afide,  and  faid  to  her :  "  My 
dear  child,  our  domeiKcs  are  growing  old ; 
Paul  is  (till  very  young  ;  age  is  ilealing  upon 
Margaret,  and  I  myfelf  am  already  infirm  ; 
ftiould  I  happen  to  die,  what  will  become  of 
you  in  the  midft  of  thefe  defer ts  ?  You  will 
be  left  entirely  alone,  with  no  perfon  to  aflilt 
you,  and  you  will  be  obliged  to  procure  your- 
felf  a  livelihood  by  laboring  incefTantly  in  the 
ground,  like  a  hireling  :  fuch  an  idea  over 
whelms  me  with  grief."  Virginia  thus  re 
plied  :  "  GOD  has  doomed  us  to  labor  :  you 
have  taught  me  how  to  work,  and  to  offer  up 
daily  thankfgiving  to  him.  Hitherto  he  has 
not  abandoned  us,  nor  will  he  abandon  us 
now.  His  providence  watches  with  peculiar 
care  over  the  unhappy  ;  you  have  told  me 
fo  a  thoufand  times,  my  dear  mother !  Oh, 
I  fliall  never  have  refoiution  to  quit  you." 
Madame  de  la  Tour,  much  affected,  return 
ed,  "  I  have  no  other  intention,  than  tfcat  of 
rendering  you  happy,  and  of  uniting  jo\i  one 
day  to  Paul,  who  is  not  your  brother  :  con- 
fider,  likewife,  that  his  fortune  now  defends 
entirely  on  you." 


$4  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

A  young  girl,  in  love,  thinks  that  every 
one  is  ignorant  of  it.  She  fp reads  the  fame 
veil  over  her  eyes,  which  ihe  wears  on  her 
heart ;  but,  when  it  is  removed  by  the  hand 
of  a  beloved  friend,  immediately  the  fecret 
torments  of  her  love  tranipire,  as  through  an 
opened  barrier,  and  the  gentle  expaniions,of 
confidence  fucceed  to  the  myfterious  rcferve 
in  which  fhe  had  enveloped  herfelf.  Virginia, 
fenfibly  alive  to  the  new  telKmonies  of  her 
mother's  kiudnefs,  freely  related  the  many 
ftruggles,  which  Ihe  had  experienced  with 
herfelt,  and  of  which  GOD  alone  had  been  the 
witnefs ;  that  flie  perceived  the  hand  of  his 
providence,  in  the  confolationadminifteredby 
a  tender  mother,  who  approved  of  her  incli 
nation,  and  who  would  direct  her  by  whole* 
fbme  counfel  ;  and  that  now,  refbing  entirely 
on  her  fupport,  every  thing  operated  as  an  in 
ducement  to  remain  where  fhe  was,  without 
uneafmefs  for  the  prefent,  or  anxiety  fur  the 
future- 

Madame  de  la  Tour,  perceiving  that  her 
confidence  had  produced  an  ef&cl,  entire1)* 
different  from  what  fhe  had  expected,  faid  to 
her  :  *'  My  dear  child,  I  have  no  wifh  to  o",n- 
ftrain  your  inclinations  ;  coniider  the  mattes 
at  your  leifure  ;  but  conceal  your  love  f : 
Paul :  when  the  heart  of  a  young  v/orr^n  is 
gained,  her  lover  has  nothing  more  to  ;.;.;  ct 
her."  ' 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  Sj 

Toward  the  evening,  while  ftie  was  alone 
with  Virginia,  a  tall  man,  dreifed  in  a  blue 
cailbck,  came  in.  He  was  an  ecclefiaftical 
zniilionary  of  the  idand,  and  confeiTor  to  Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour  and  Virginia,  and  had  been 
fcnt  thither  by  the  Governor.  "  My  chil 
dren,"  faid  he,  as  he  entered,  "  there  is  wealth 
In  ftore  for  you  now,  thank  Heaven  !  You 
have,  at  length,  the  means  of  gratifying  your 
benevolent  feelings,  by  admin iftering  affift* 
since  to  the  wretched.  I  well  know  what  the 
Governor  has  faid  to  you,  and  your  reply. 
My  good  madam,  the  ftate  of  your  health 
obliges  you  to  remain  here  ;  but  as  for  you, 
young  lady,  you  have  no  excufe.  We  rnufl 
obey  the  will  of  Providence,  in  refpecling  our 
old  relations,  however  unjuft  they  may  have 
been  to  us.  It  is  a  facrifice,  I  grant,  but  it  is 
the  command  of  the  Almighty.  He  devoted 
himfelf  for  us,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  devote 
cmrielves  for  the  welfare  of  our  kindred.— 
Your  voyage  into  France  will  finally  come 
to  a  happy  iilue  :  can  you  poffibly,  my  dear 
child,  have  any  objection  to  go  thither  ?"  Vir 
ginia,  with  her  eyescaft  down,  and  trembling 
as  Ibc  ipake,  replied  :  *'  If  it  is  the  command 
of  GOD,  that  I  Ihould  go,  I  have  nothing 
to  fay  again  ft  it ;  the  will  of  GOD  be  done," 
faid  Ihe  bur  fling  into  tears. 

The  nuilionary  took  his  departure,  and 
ive  the  Governor  an  account  of  the  fucccfs 
H 


86  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

of  his  embafTy.  Madame  de  la  Tour,  how 
ever,  fent  a  meiTage  10  me,  by  Domingo,  in- 
treating  me  to  come  over,  and  conmlt  about 
Virginia's  departure.  It  was  my  firm  opin 
ion,  that  Ihe  ought  not  to  be  p 
fo.  I  maintain,  as  infallible  princh 
appinefs,  that  the  advantages  of  nature 
ought  always  to  be  preferred  before  thcfe 
of  fortune  ;  ;and,  that  we  fhould  never  feek, 
from  abroad,  thofe  bleffings  which  we  can 
find  at  home.  I  extend  thefe  maxims  to  all 
cafes,  without  a  fingle  exception.  But  of 
what  avail  could  my  moderate  counfels  prove, 
ao^ainft  the  ilhiiions  of  an  immenfe  fortune, 
and  my  natural  reafcn,  againii:  the  prejudices 
of  the  world,  and  againit  an  .authority  held 
facred  by  Madame  de  la  Tour  ?  This  lady 
confulted  me  only  out  of  poiitencfs,  for  fhe  no 
longer  deliberated  in  her  own  mind,  after  the 
deciiion  of  her  ccnfeiibr.  Even  Margaret, 
who,  in  fpite  of  the-  advantages  which  fhe 
thought  her  fen  might  derive  from  Virginia's 
fortunes  had  warmly  oppofcd  her  departure, 
no  longer  made  any  objections.  As  for  Paul, 
entirely  ignorant  of  the  refolutions  which 
might  be  formed,  and  alarmed  at  the  fecret 
conversations  of  Madame  de  ia  Tour  and  her 
daughter,  he  abandoned  himfelf  to  a  gloomy 
fadnefs  ;  "  Surely,"  faid  he,  "  they  are  con 
triving  fome  mifchief  againft  me,  from  th« 
jnyfterioufnefs  of  their  conduct  towards  me.'* 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  87 

A  report,  meanwhile,  being  foon  circulated 
in  the  iiland,  that  fortune  had  vifited  thefe 
folitudes,  merchants  of  ever y  defcription 
might  be  feen  fcrambling  up  hither  :  they  di£ 
played,  amidlt  theic  poor  cottages,  the  rich- 
eit  lluus  of  India  ;  the  fuperfine  dimities  of 
Gouvklour  ;  the  handkerchiefs  of  Pouilicat 
and  Ma^ttlipataffl,  and  the  muilins  of  Decca, 
plain,  itriped,  embroidered,  and  transparent 
as  tho  day  ;  the  baftas  of  Surat,  fo  beauti 
fully  white,  and  chintzes  of  all  colours,  and 
of  the  rarcft  fort,  with  a  fable  ground  and 
green  {brigs.  They  unrolled  the  magnifi 
cent  fiiks  of  China ,;  lampas  pinked  into 
transparency  ;  fatmy-white  damaffcs  5  feme 
of  a  meadow-green,  others  of  a  dazzling  red  ; 
rcfe- colored  taffetas,  fattins  in  whole  bales, 
pckins  foft  as  wool,  white  and  yellow  nan 
keens,  and  even  the  fluffs  of  Madagafcar. 

Madame  de  la  Tour  gave  her  daughter 

perrnifilon  to  purchafe  whatever  pleafed  her, 

carefully  examining,  however,  the  quality  of 

di^  goods  and  their  prices,  left  the  merchants 

I    impoie    upon   her.      Virginia   made 

of  what  flie  thought  would  be  agree- 

her  mother,  to  Margaret,  and  to  Paul. 

4i   Phis,"  f.risl  ihe,   "  will  be  ufeful  for  furni* 

ture,    that  for    Domingo  and    Mary."      In 

Ittbrt,  the  bag  of  piaitres  was  expended,  be* 

fcrj  ihe  thought  of  her  own  wants.     It  be- 


S3  PAUL  AND  v: 

came  neceffiary  to  cull  her  portion  out  of 
the  prefents  which  fhe  had  diftributed  among 
the  houfehold. 

Paul,  overwhelmed  with  fbrrow,  at  the 
fight  of  thefe  gifts  <M  fortune,  whieh  prefaged 
the  departure  of  Virginia,  came  to  my  home, 
2.  few  days  afterwards  ;  he  faid  to  me,  with 
£  melancholy  air  :  "  My  filler  is  going  to 
leave  us  ;  preparations  are  already  made  for 
her  departure.  Come  over  to  our  habitation, 
I  entreat  you,  and  make  ufe  of  your  influence 
on  the  minds  of  her  mother  and  of  mine.0 
I,  accordingly,  yielded  to  his  importunity* 
though  well  aflured  that  iny  repreientations 
would  be  ineffectual. 

If  Virginia  had  appeared  beautiful  to  me, 
in  her  drefs  of  blue  Bengal  clothj  with  a  red 
handkerchief  tied  round  her  head,  how  \v~s 
fiie  improved  when  I  law  her  habited  like  the 
ladies  of  this  country  !  Site  •  .  -d  in 

white  muHin,  lined  with  n  . 
her  ftays  diiplayed,  to  great  advantage,  her 
elegant  and  majeiiic  fhape  ;  and    her  beau 
tiful  flaxen  hair,  in  long  double  trefTes,  adorn 
ed  her  virgin  head  :  her  fine    blue  eyes   af- 
fumed  a  call  of  melancholy,  ar.c.1  ih.  ::cri:a^ 
tion  which  her  heart  endure. d,-  by  fa  ~ 
with  aimotli'rred  pafiion,ga^e  n.  g'cwiiit: 
to  her  complexion,  ar.d  uiiier^  in. .  ioii, 

to  her  voice.  The  very  ccntrafc  of  her  ele 
gant  drefs,  which  fhe  feemed  to  wear  againft 


PAUL  AN  a  VIRGINIA,  89 

her  will,  rendered  her  languor  ftill  more  af 
fecting.  No  one  could  fee  or  hear  her,  with* 
out  being  moved.  Paul's  fadnefs  was  iix- 
creafed  by  it.  Margaret,  afflicted  at  her  ion's 
fkuation,  took  him  apart,  and  thus  addreiTed 
him  :  "  Why,  my  fon,  do  you  feed  yourfelf 
with  falfe  hopes,  which  only  ferves  to  render 
the  disappointment  of  them  more  bitter  ?  It 
is  now  time  to  clifclofe  to  you  the  fecret  of 
your  life,  and  of  my  own.  Mademoifelle  de 
la  Tour  is  related,  by  her  mother's  fide,  to 
a  perfon  of  immenfe  wealth,  and  of  high 
rank.  As  to  yourfelf,  you  are  only  the  fon 
of  a  poor  low-born  woman  ;  and  what  is  ftill 
worle,  you  are  a  baftard." 

The  word  baftard  greatly  furprifed  Paul ; 
he  had  never  heard  it  made  ufe  of  before,  and 
Le  aiked  his  mother  the  meaning  of  it :  ihe 
replica,  "  You  have  no  legitimate  father  ; 
when  I  was  a  girl,  love  betrayed  me  into  a 
foil  7,  of  which  you  are  the  fruit.  My  frail 
ty  deprived  you  of  the  family  of  your  father, 
and  my  repentance  of  that  of  your  mother. 
Unfortunate  boy  !  I  am  the  only  relation  you 
have  in  the  world,"  She  concluded  by 
bu riling  into  a  flood  of  tears.  Paul,  folding 
her  in  his  arms,  exclaimed  :  "  Alas  !  my 
mother,  lince  I  have  no  otherrelationbutyou, 
I  will  love  you  ftill  the  more  :  but,  what  a 
fecret  have  you  juft  now  divulged  to  'me  !  I 
r,tnv  plainly  perceive  the  reaion,  why  Made- 
H  3 


93  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

moifclle  de  la  Tour  has,  for  thefe  two  months, 
flmnned  me,  and  which  has,  at  length,  deter 
mined  her  to  take  her  departure.  Alas  ! 
without  doubt,  ihe  defpifes  me  I" 

However,  the  hour  of  fupper  came  ;  each 
of  the  guefts  tcok  a  place  at  table,  agitated 
with  different  pafiions  ;  they  ate  little,  and 
did  not  utter  a  fingle  fyllabJe.  Virginia  re 
tired  mil,  and  came  and  leafed  herfelf  on  the 
ipot,  where  we  now  are  :  Paul  loon  follow- 
ed  and  placed  him! elf  by  her  fide  ;  a  profound 
filence  enfued  for  fome  time.  It  was  one  of 
thofe  delightful  nights,  fo  common  between 
the  Tropics,  and  whole  beauty  bairles  all  de- 
fcription.  The  moon  appeared  in  the  middle 
of  the  firmament,  enveloped  with  a  cloudy 
curtain,  which  was  gradually  difiipated  by 
her  rays.  Her  light  infenfibly  diflufed  itfeif 
over  the  mountains  of  the  iiland,  and  over 
their  peaks,  which  glittered  with  a  filvery 
verdure.  Not  a  breath  of  wind  was  to  be 
heard.  In  the  woods  at  the  bottom  of  the 
rallies,  and  at  the  top  of  the  rocks,  the  foft 
warblings,  and  the  gentle  murmurings  of  the 
birds,  which  were  carefling  each  other  in  their 
nefts,  delighted  with  the  beauty  of  the  night, 
and  the  tranquillity  of  the  atmofphere,  itole 
on  the  ear.  All,  even  to  the  very  infects, 
were  humming  along  the  grafs ;  the  liars, 
twinkling  in  the  heavens,  reflected  their  trem 
bling  images  on  the  iurface  of  the  ocean. 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  $1 

As  Virginia  was  furveying,  with  wandering 
eyes,  the  vaft  and  gloomy  horizon,  diltin- 
guifhable  from  the  ihores  of  the  ifland,  by 
the  red  fires  of  the  fiikermen,  fKe  perceived, 
at  the  entrance  of  the  port,  a  light  fixed  to  a 
large  dark  body  ;  it  was  the  lantern  on  the 
veiiel  in  which  ihe  was  to  embark  for  Europe* 
and  which,  ready  to  let  fail,  only  lay  at  anchor 
till  the  breeze  iliould  fpring  up.  At  this 
fight,  ihe  was  fo  deeply  aile&ed,  that  ihe- 
turned  her  head  afide,  left  Paul  ihould  per* 
ceive  her  tears. 

Madame  de  la  Tour,  Margaret,  and  I> 
were  feated  a  few  paces  from  them,  under  the 
frade  of  the  banana  trees  ;  and,  owing  to 
the  ftillnefs  of  the  night,  we  diftin&ly  heard 
their  converfation,  which  I  ihall  never  forget. 

Paul  faid  to  her :  "  I  underftand,  madam, 
that  you  are  to  take  your  ^departure  hence  in 
three  days  :  have  you  no  apprehenfion,  at  the 
thought  of  exposing  yourfelf  to  the  dangers 
of  the  fea — the  fea,  at  which  you  ufed  to  be 
fo  terrified."  "  It  is  my  duty,  you  know,7' 
replied  Virginia,  "  to  obey  the  commands  of 
my  relation?."  "  You  are  going,  then,"  faid 
Paul,  "  to  quit  our  fociety  for  a  female  rela- 
tion,  who  lives  far  from  hence,  and  whom  you 

have  never  feen  !" — "  Alas  !"  returned 

Virginia,  "  had  I  been  permitted  to  follow  my 
own  inclinations,  I  ihould  have  remained  here 
all  my  life  long  ;  bat  my  mother  is  of  a  coa? 


$4  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

trary  opinion,  and  my  confefTcr  has  told  me, 
it  is  the  will  of  GOD,  that  I  fhould  depart ; 
that  life  is  a  date  of  probation. — Alas  I  how 
fevere  that  probation  is  !" 

"  How/'  replied  Paul,  "  fo  many  reafcns 
to  determine  thee  to  leave  us,  and  not  one  to 
induce  thee  to  remain  !  Ah  !  of  the  former, 
there  is  ftill  one,  which  you  have  not  men 
tioned  :  the  attractions,  which  wealth  holds 
out,  are  powerful.  You  will  foon  find,  in  a 
world  entirely  new  to  you,  another  perfon  on 
whom  to  beftow  the  name  of  brother,  by 
which  you  now  no  longer  addrefs  me  :  you 
will  find  this  brother  among  your  equals,  and 
fuch  as  have  riches  and  high  birth,  which  I 
can  never  offer  you.  But,  whither  can  you 
go  to  be  more  happy,  than  where  you  are  ? 
On  \vhat  land  can  you  fet  your  foot,  dearer  to 
you,  than  that  which  gave  you  being  ?  Where 
can  you  find  a  fociety  more  amiable,  than  one 
of  which  you  are  entirely  beloved  ?  Hew 
can  you  exifl  without  the  carefles  of  your 
mother,  to  which  you  have  been  fo  long  ac- 
cuftomed  ?  What  will  become  of  your  moth^ 
c'r  herfelf,  already  far  advanced  in  life,  when  fhe 
no  longer  fees  you  by  her  fide,  at  her  table,  in 
the  licufe,  and  in  her  walks,  where  you  ufed 
to  be  her  fupport  ?  To  what  a  ftate  will  mine 
be  reduced,  who  is  as  fondly  attached  to  you 
as  your  own  ?  What  can  I  fay  to  give  them 
confolaticn,  when  I  fee  them  mourning  ycur 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  9| 

[ibfence  ?  Cruel  girl !  I  fay  nothing  of  my-. 
felf ;  but,  what  will  become  of  me,  when  ia 
the  morning,  I  no  longer  enjoy  your  compa-, 
ny,  and  when  night  comes  on,  without  bring 
ing  us  together  again  :  and  when  L  uvall  be- 
bold  thefe  palm-trees,  planted  at  our  birth, 
and  which,  fo  long,  have  been  the  witnelTes  of 
our  mutual  aifedion.  Ah  !  fince  a  new  def- 
tiny  attracts  you ;  fince  you  will  feek  other 
countries 5  far  from  the  fpot  where  you  was. 
born,  and  other  poiTeffions,  than  thofe  which 
the  labor  of  my  hands  has  procured  for  you, 
allow  me  to  accompany  you  in  your  voyage  ; 
I  will  encourage  you,  during  thpfe  tempefts, 
v/hich  caufed  fuch  apprehenfions  in  you  while 
en  fhore.  Thy  head  fhall  repofe  upon  my 
ofom  ;  I  will  olafp  thee  to  my  breaft  ;  and, 
:ice,  where  thorn  art  going,  in  queft  of 
fortune  and  of  greatnefs,  I  will  follow  thee  as 
thy  flave  ;  in  the  palaces,  where  I  fhall  behold 
thee  ftrved  and  adorned,  I  will  rejoice  at  thy 
liappmefs  ;  even  then  I  iliall  be  rich  enough 
to  offer  thse  the  greatett  of  facrifices,.  by  dying 
at  thy  feet." 

His  voice  was  entirely  illiled  with  fobbing  j 
we  prefently  heard  that  of  Virginia,  who  ad- 
drclled  hin;»  in  thefe  words,  frequently  inter 
rupted  by  flghs — •"  It  is  for  thy  fake  that  I 
go  away — for  thee,  whom  I  have  fecn  daily 
kovvecl  down  to  the  ground,  laboring  to  fup- 
port  two  infirm  families,  If  I  have  embraced 


54  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

this  opportunity  of  acquiring  wealth 3  it  is  on* 
ly  to  return,  a  thoufand  fold,  the  gccd  which 
thou  hall  done  to  us  all.  Can  there  be  a  for 
tune  worthy  of  thy  friendfnip  ?  Why  men 
tion  thy  birth  to-me  ?  Ah  !  were  it  even  pel* 
ilble  that  another  brother  inould  be  offered  to 
(me,  could  I  choofe  any  but  ihee  ?  Oh,  Paul  I 
Paul !  thou  art  far  dearer  to  me  than  a  broth 
er.  What  a  ftruggle  hath  it  coft  me  to  keep 
thee  at  a  diftance  ?  I  even  wifhed  thee  to  ailift 
me  in  feparating  me  from  myfelf,  till  Heaven 
could  blefs  our  union.  Put  row,  I  remain  ! 
I  depart !  I  live  !  I  die  !  Do  what  thou  wilt 
with  me  :  Oh,  irrefolute  girl  that  I  sm  !  I 
had  fortitude  to  repel  thy  careflcs,  but  thy 
forrow  quite  overpowers  me." 

At  thfi£  words,  Paul  took  her  in  his  arms, 
and  holding  her  clofely  embraced,  exclaimed 
writh  a  terrible  voice  :  "  I  am  refolved  to  go 
with  her,  nor  fhall  any  thing  fhake  rny  reio- 
lution."  We  immediately  flew  toward  him, 
and  Madame  de  la  Tcur  addrefled  him  in 
thefe  words  :  "  My  fcn,fhould  yougoawray> 
what  is  to  become  of  us  ?" 

He  repeated  thefe  words,  fiiuddcrirg  :  My 
fon  !  my  fon  I — "Doft  thov/'  cried  he,  "a& 
the  part  of  a  mother,  thcu,  who  feparateft 
brother  and  frfter  ?  We  both  were  nourifhtd 
by  thy  milk  ;  we  both  were  nurfed  upon  thy 
knees  ;  from  thec?  tco,  we  learned  to  love 
each  other  ;  we  have  faid  fo  to  each  other  a 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  5tf 

thoufand  times  ;  yet,  now,  you  are  going  to. 
•emove  her  from  me  ;  you  are  not  only  fend- 
ng  her  to  Europe,  that  barbarous  country 
which  denied  thyfelf  ihelter,  but  even  to; 
hole  cruel  relations  who  abandoned  you. — t 
may  fay  to  me,  you  have  no  authority 
5ver  her,  fhe  is  not  your  filler.  Yes,  (he  is 
-very  thing  to  me,  my  riches,  my  family,  my 
)irth,  my  all  ;  I  know  no  other  bl  effing  ; 
we  were  brought  up  under  the  fame  roof,  we 
-epofed  in  the  fame  cradle,  and  the  fame 
grave  fliail  contain  us.  If  i'he  goes,  I  am 
•efolved  to  follow.  The  Governor  will  pre- 
'eat  roe  !  Can  he  prevent  me  from  thro  wing 
nvfelf  into  the  fea  ?  I  will  fwim  after  her  ; 
the  lea  cannot  be  more  fatal  to  me  than  the 
dry  land.  As  I  cannot  live  near  her,  I  fhall, 
,t  lead)  have  the  fatisfa&ion  of  dying  before 
ler  eyes,  fiir,  far  from  thee.  Barbarous  mo 
ther  !  pitilefs  woman  I  Oh,  may  that  ocean, 
to  the  perils  of  which  thou  art  going  to  ex- 
:>ofe  her,  never  give  her  back  to  thy  arms  ! 
M.iy  theie  billows  bear  my  body  back  to  thee, 
me!  c:i:'ting  it,  together  with  her's,  on  this 
caufe  an  eternal  melancholy  to 
\  by  prefenthig  to  thy  view,  the 
•  fate  of  thy  two  children. " 
.efc  words,  I  fei/ed  him  in  my  arms, 
•ceived  that  dt !pair  had  overpower- 
s  fparkled  ;  large  drops 
ran  .down  his'^mSiimed  countenance  j 


?6  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

his  knees  trembled,  and  I  felt  his  heart  bent- 
with  redoubled  violence,  in  his  burning  bo 
fom. 

Virginia,  terrified,  faid  to  him  :  "  Gh,  my 
friend,  I  fwear,  by  the  pleafures  of  our  early 
age,  by  thy  misfortunes  and  my  own,  2nd 
by  all  that  ever  could  unite  two  unfortunate 
wretches,  that  if  I  remain  here,  I  v/ill  only 
live  for  thee  ;  and  if  I  depart,  I  wiU  one  day 
return  to  be  thine.  I  call  you  to  witnefs,  all 
ye,  who  have  watched  over  my  infant  fteps, 
you,  who  have  the  difpofal  of  my  life,  and 
who  now  behold  the  tears  which  I  fhed  :  I 
fwear  it,  by  the  high  Heaven,  which  now 
hears  me  ;  by  that  ocean,  which  I  am  going 
to  brave  :  by  the  air  which  I  breathe,  and 
which,  hitherto,  I  have  never  polluted  with  a 
falfehood." 

In  like  manner  as  the  heat  of  the  fun  di£ 
folves,  and  precipitates,  an  icy  rock  from  the 
fummit  of  the  Appenines,  fo  did  the  impetu 
ous  rage  of  this  young  man  fubfide,  at  the 
voice  of  the  beloved  object.  His  lofty  head 
drooped  down,  and  a  torrent  of  tears  gufbcd 
from  his  eyes.  His  mother,  mingling  her 
own  tears  with  his,  held  him,  locked  in  her 
arms,  without  the  power  of  utterance.  Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour,  quite  diflracled,  faid  to  me  : 
"  I  can  contain  myfelf  no  longer :  my  fcul 
is  torn  with  contending  pafilons.  This  un 
fortunate  voyage  fliall  nQt  take  place.  Eo* 


PAUt  AND  VIRGINIA. 

my  dear  neighbour,  endeavour  to 
my  fon  to  accompany  you  homexvards ;  eight 
days  have  elapfed,  fmce  any  of  us  have  en 
joyed  a  fingle  moment  of  fleep." 

I,  accordingly,  faid  to  Paul  :  "  My  good 
friend,  your  lifter  ihall  remain  with  us  :  to 
morrow,  we  will  mention  the  matter  to  the 
Governor  ;  meanwhile,  leave  your  family  to 
repofe,  and  come  and  pafs  the  night  at  my 
•  habitation.  It  is  late,  it  is  mindight  :  thfe 
crofs  of  the  South  is  direclly  over  the  hori 
zon." 

He  allowed  rne  to  conduct  him,  in  {ilence* 
After  a  very  reitlefs  night,  he  rofe  at  day- 
breakj  and  returned  to  his  own  home. 

But,  wherefore  fhould  I  continue  the  re« 
recital  of  this  melancholy  flory  to  you  any 
longer  ?  There  is  only  one  agreeable  fide  to 
contemplate  in  human  life.  Like  the  globe 
on  which  we  revolve,  oiir  rapid  career  is  on 
ly  that  of  a  day,  and  part  of  that  day  cannot 
receive  illumination,  till  the  other  be  invclv- 
td  in  darknefs. 

"  Father,'*  faid  I  to  him,  "  I  muft  entreat 
you  to  finilh  the  account  of  what  you  have 
begun,  in  a  manner  fo  afFeding.  Images  of 
happinefs  delight  the  fancy,  but  the  recital  of 
misfortunes  conveys  inflruclion  to  the  mind. 
I  am  anxious  to  learn  what  became  of  the  ua- 
fcsrtunate  Paul/' 

The  foil  object  which  {truck  Paul,  on  his 
I 


?S  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

return  to  the  plantation,  was  the  negrefs  Ma- 
ry,  who  mounted  on  a  rock,  had  her  eyes 
ftedfaftlyfixedonthe  main  ocean.  The  moment 
that  he  perceived  her,  he  exclaimed :  "  Where 
is  Virginia  ?"  Mary  turned  her  head  toward 
her  young  matter,  andlmrit  into  tears,  Paul, 
in  a  delirium,  turned  round,  and  flew  to  the 
port.  He  there  learned,  that  Virginia  had 
embarked  at  clay-break,  that  the  vefTel  had 
fet  fail  immediately,  and  was  now  no  longer 
in  fight.  He  dire&ed  his  fteps  back  to  his 
place  of  habitation,  and  walked  up  and  down.] 
in  profound  filence. 

Although  this  enclofure  of  rocks  appears 
almoft  perpendicular  behind  us,  thofe  green 
flats,  which  divide  their  heights,  are  fo  many 
ftages,  by  which  you  arrive,  by  means  of 
fome  intricate  paths,  at  the  foot  of  that  in 
clining,  and  inacceffible  cone  of  rocks,  which 
is  called  The  Thumb.  At  the  bottom  oi 
this  rock,  is  an  efplanade,  covered  with  great 
trees,  but  fo  lofty,  and  fo  ileep  that  they  ap 
pear  like  a  large  foreft  in  the  air,  furrounded 
with  fearful  precipices.  The  clouds,  which 
the  furamit  of  the  Thumb  attracts  continual- 
ly  around  it,  inceflantly  feed  feveral  cafcades 
of  water,  which  are  precipitated  to  fuch  a 
depth  into  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  fituated 
at  the  back  of  this  mountain,  that  when  you 
are  at  its  top,  you  no  longer  hear  the  noife  of 
their  fall.  From  this  pUce,  a  great  part  of 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  $? 

the  ifland  is  perceptible,  and  the  peaks  of 
feveral  of  its  mountains  ;  among  others,  thofe 
of  Piterboth,  and  of  the  Three  Paps,  and 
their  vallies,  covered  with  forefts  ;  then,  the 
open  fen,  and  the  ifland  of  Bourbon,  which 
is  forty  leagues  to  the  We  ft  ward.  From  this 
elevation,  Paul  perceived  the  ve/Tel,  which 
bore  away  Virginia.  He  defcried  it  at  more 
than  ten  leagues  diftance,  like  a  black  fpeck, 
in  the  middle  of  the  vaft  ocean.  He  fpent 
a  confiderable  part  of  the  day  in  contemplat 
ing  it,  and  though  it  had  actually  difappear- 
ed  from  his  fight,  he  ftill  imagined  that  he 
perceived  it  j  and  when  he  had  entirely  loft 
it  in  the  thick  vapor  of  the  horizon,  he  feat* 
ed  himfelf  in  this  defolate  fpot,  always  agi 
tated  by  the  winds,  which  blow  inceflantly 
on  the  tops  of  the  palm-trees,  and  of  the  ta- 
tamaques.  Their  loud  and  hollow  murmurs 
referable  the  deep  tones  of  an  organ,  and  in- 
fpire  a  profound  melancholy. 

There,  I  found  Paul,  his  head  leaning  a* 
gainfl  the  rock,  and  his  eyes  rivetted  to  the 
ground.  I  had  been  feeking  him  fmce  fun- 
rife,  and  it  was  with  much  difficulty,  that  I 
could  prevail  on  him  to  defcend,  and  re-vifit 
his  family.  At  length,  however,  I  brought 
him  back  to  his  habitation  ;  but  the  moment 
he  cad  his  eyes  on  Madame  de  la  Tour,  he 
began  to  reproach  her  bitterly,  for  having  fo 

I    2 


loo  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

cruelly  deceived  him.  She  informed  us,  that 
a  breeze  having  fprung  up,  about  three  in  the 
morning,  and  the  veilel  being  in  full  trim  to 
depart,  die  Governor,  attended  by  his  prin 
cipal  officers,  and  the  miffionary,  came,  in  a 
palanquin,  to  carry  off  Virginia,  ;  and,  in 
ipite  of  her  expoilulations,  her  tears,  and, 
thofe  of  Margaret,  all  ef  them  exclaiming, 
that  it  was  for  their  intereft,  had  hurried  a- 
ivay  her  daughter,  who  was  almoft  expiring, 
"  Alas  I"  exclajmed  Paul,  "  if  I  had  only 
enjoyed  the  fatisfaftion  of  bidding  her  fare 
well,  I  fhould  now  be  happy.  I  would  have 
faid  to  her  ;  Virginia,  if,  during  the  time 
that  we  have  lived  together)  I  have  made  ufe 
of  any  one  word,  which  may  have  given  you 
offence,  tell  me,  that  I  have  your  forgivenefs, 
before  we  part  for  ever,  I  would  have  faid  \ 
Since  Fate  has  decreed  an  eternal  feparation, 
adieu,  my  dear  Virginia,  adieu  ;  may  you 
live,  far  from  hence,  contented,  and  happy." 
perceiving  Madame  de  la  Tour,  and  his  mo 
ther,  to  weep.  "  Go,"  faid  he  to  them  '*  go, 
and  feek  foine  other  hand  than  mine  to  wipe 
away  your  tears."  He  then  haftened  from 
them,  fighing  deeply,  and  wandered  here  and 
there,  through  the  plantation.  He  went  over 
all  thofe  places,  which  had  been  the  moft 
favorite  retreats  of  Virginia.  He  faid  to  her 

foats,   and  the   kids,    which    followed  him, 
lea.ti.ng  :  "  What  do  you  afk  of  me  ?  Alas ! 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  ibi 

you  will  never  more  fee,  in  my  company* 
that  perfon  whofe  hand  ufed  to  feed  you."— -» 
He  then  wandered  to  Virginia's  Reft,  and,  at 
the  fight  of  the  birds,  which  fluttered  around 
him,  he  exclaimed  :  "  Unhappy  fongfters  ! 
no  longer  will  you  fly  to  meet  her,  from  whom 
you  received  your  nourifliment."  Perceiving 
Fidele  following  the  fcent,  up  and  down, 
and  ranging  around,  he  fighed,  and  faid  to 
him  :  "  Alas  !  thou  wilt  never  find  her 
more  ! "  At  length,  he  went,  and  feated 
himfelf  on  the  rock,  where  he  had  fpoken  to 
her  the  evening  before  ;  and  at  the  fight  of 
the  fea,  Xvhere  he  had  perceived  the  veilel  dif* 
appear,  he  wept  bitterly. 

We  followed  him,  however,  ftep  by  ftep, 
fearing  left  the  agitation  of  his  mind  fhould 
take  fome  fatal  turn.  His  mother,  and  Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour,  entreated  him,  by  the  moft 
tender  appellations,  not  to  aggravate  their 
affliction,  by  his  defpair.  At  length,  the  lat 
ter  calmed  him,  in  fome  degree,  by  laviining 
upon  him  the  names,  which  were  mo.ft  calcu 
lated  to  revive  his  hopes.  She  called  him  her 
fon,  her  dear  fon,  her  fcn-in-law,-  the  only 
perfon  on  wrhom  fhe  intended  to  beftow  her 
daughter.  She,  at  length,  perfuaded  him  to 
return  to  the  houfe,  and  take  fome  ncurifh- 
ment.  He  feated  himfelf  at  table,  with  us, 
near  the  fpot  where  the  companion  of  his  in 
fancy  ufed  to  place  herfelf ;  and,  as  if  (he  had 
1  3 


so:,  PAUL  AND  VIROINIA, 

ftill  occupied  it,  he  addrefTed  hirnfelf  to  her* 
and  tendered  that  food,  which  he  knew  was 
moil  agreeable  to  hers  but,  perceiving  his 
error,  he  btirft  into  tears.  For  ibme  days 
following,  he  collected  every  thing,  which  (lie 
*yas  accuftomed  to  keep,  for  her  particular 
ufe ;  the  lad  nofegay  which  fhe  had  worn, 
and  a  cup  made  of  the  cocoa-nut,  out  of 
which  ihe  ufually  drank  ;  and,  as  if  theie 
relics  of  his  friend  had  been  the  mo  ft  pre 
cious  treafures  in  the  world,  he  kifled  them, 
and  put  them  in  his  bofom.  The  amber 
gris  does  not  ih.ed  fo  fweet  a  perfume,  as 
thofe  things  which  have  been  touched  by  a 
beloved  object. 

But  Paul,  at  length,  perceiving  that  his, 
dejeclion  only  augmented  that  of  his  mother, 
and  of  Madame  cle  la  Tour,  and  iikewife  ob- 
ferving,  that  the  necefilties  of  the  family  call 
ed  for  continual  labor,  he  began,  with  Do 
mingo's  help,  to  repair  the  garden. 

In  a  fhort  time  this  young  man,  before  as 
indifferent  as  a  Creole  about  what  was  pai- 
fing  in  the  world,  entreated  me  to  teach  him 
to  read  and  to  write,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
keep  up  a  correfpondence  with  Virginia. — 
He,  afterwards,  feemed  eager  to  be  inftructed 
in  geography  ;  in  order  to  form  an  idea  of 
the  country  whither  fhe  was  fleering  ;  and 
In  hiilory,  that  he  might  learn,  what  were 
th£  ziunnprs  of  the  people,  among  whom  (he 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  i^ 

was  going  to  live.  Thus  did  he  attain  to 
perfection  in  agriculture,  and  in  the  art  cf 
diipofing  in  order  the  nioft  irregular  {pot  of 
ground,  merely  by  the  fentiment  of  Icve, 
Doubtlefs,  it  is  to  the  delights  of  this  ardent, 
and  reftlefs  paflion,  that  men  mud  afcribe  the 
origin  of  the  generality  of  arts  and  fcienccs  ; 
and,  it  is  from  its  privations,  that  philofcphy 
derives  its  birth,  which  teaches  us  to  confole 
ourfelves  for  every  lofs.  Thus,  nature,  hav 
ing  made  love  the  bond  of  union  to  all  cre 
ated  beings,  has  rendered  it  the  grand  moving 
principle  of  fcdety,  and  the  principal  fource 
of  our  illuminations,  and  of  our  pleasures. 
Paul  did  not  greatly  relifh  the  ftudy  of 
geography,  which,  inflead  of  unfolding  the 
nature  of  each  country,  only  prefents  its  po 
litical  divifions.  Hiftory,  and  efpecially.  mod 
ern  hi  (lory,  did  not  intereft  him  much  more. 
It  only  prefented  to  his  mind,  general  and 
periodical  misfortunes,  the  reafon  of  which 
it  was  impoilible  for  him  to  penetrate  ;  wars 
without  a  caufe,  and.  with  no  object  in  view  ; 
contemptible  intrigues  ;  nations  deilitute  of 
character,  and  fovereigns without  a  principle 
of  humanity.  He  even  preferred,  to  fueh 
reading,  that  of  romance,  which,  having  only 
in  view  the  feelings  and  the  interefU  of  man,. 
fometimes  difplayed  fitu:nlons  iimiiar  to  his 
own.  Accordingly,,  no  book  delighted  him 
fo  much  as  Telemaclms,  from  "./the  pidures 


*04  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

which  it  delineates  of  a  country  life,  and  of 
the  paffionsj  which  are  natural  to  the  human 
heart.  He  read  to  his  mother,  and  to  Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour,  thofe  pailages,  which  af 
fected  him  the  moft  ;  at  times,  mournful  re 
collections  linking  his  mind,  he  loft  the  pow 
er  of  utterance,  2nd  tears  gufhed  from  his 
eyes.  He  thought  he  could  trace  the  digni 
ty  and  the  wifdom  of  Antiope,  together 
with  the  misfortunes  and  the  tendernefs  of 
Eiicharis,  in  his  beloved  Virginia.  On  the 
other  hand,  he  was  quite  fhocked  at  reading 
our  falhionable  romances,  fo  full  of  licentious 
maxims  and  manners  ;  and  when  he  under- 
ftood  that  thefe  romances  difplayed  a  real 
picture  of  European  nations,  he  feared,  and 
not  without  rcafon,  that  Virginia  might  be 
there  corrupted,  and  caft  him  from  her  re 
membrance. 

In  truth,  near  two  years  had  elapfed,  be 
fore  Madame  de  la  Tour  heard  any  intelli 
gence  of  her  aunt,  or  of  her  daughter  :  fhe 
had  only  been  informed,  by  the  report  cf  a 
itranger,  that  the  latter  had  arrived  fafely 
in  France.  At  length,  however,  flie  receiv 
ed,  by  a  veiTel  on  her  way  to  India,  a  packet 
together  with  a  letter,  in  Virginia's  own  hand 
writing  ;  and,  notwi  thftanding  the  circum- 
fpcction  of  her  amiab  le  and  gentle  daughter, 
fhe  apprehended  her  very  unhappy.  This 
ktter  ib  well  depicted  her  fituation,  and  her 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  10$ 

chiracler,  that  I  have  retained  it  in  my  mem 
ory,  almoft  word  for  word  : 

**  My  dear  and  mush-loved  I&otlert 

"  I  have  already  written  to  you  feveral  let* 
ters  in  my  own  hand  ;  but,  as  I  have  receiv 
ed  no  anfwer,  I  mult  fufpect  that  they  have 
never  reached  you.  I  hope  this  will  be  more 
fortunate,  both  from  the  precaution  which 
I  have  taken,  to  fend  you  news  of  myielf^ 
and  to  receive  your's  in  return. 

"  Many  tears  have  I  ihed  fince  our  fepa- 
ration,  I,  who  fcarcely  ever  before  wept,  ex 
cept  at  the  misfortunes  of  another!  On  my 
Arrival,  my  grand-aunt  was  much  furprifed, 
when,  on  queftioning  me  concerning  my  at 
tainments,  I  informed  her,  that  I  could  nei 
ther  read  or  write.  She  afked  me  what  I  had 
been  doing,  then,  fince  I  came  into  the  world  ; 
and  when  I  told  her,  that  my  whole  ftudy  had 
been  the  care  of  a  family,  and  obedience  to 
you,  fhe  replied,  that  I  had  received  the  edu 
cation  of  a  menial  fervant*  The  day  fol 
lowing,  fke  placed  me,  as  a  boarder,  in  a 
large  convent,  near  Paris,  where  I  had  maf- 
tcrs  of  every  d.efcription  ;  among  other 
things,  they  inftrufted  me  in  hitlory,  in  ge 
ography,  in  grammar,  in  mathematics,  and 
in  horfemanfhip  ;  but  my  inclination  for  all 
thefe  fciences  was  fo  faint,  that  I  profiled  very 


io6  frAXJL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

little  by  the  lefTons  of  thofe  gentlemen.  I' 
feel  that  I  am  a  poor  creature,  and  of  little 
fpirit,  as  they  interpret  the  word  here.  My 
aunt's  kindnefs,  however,  does  not  diminifh; 
(he  is  continually  giving  me  new  dreffes,  ac 
cording  to  the  feafon  :  I  have  two  women  to 
attend  Jne,  who  are  habited  as  elegantly  as 
ladies  of  quality.  She  has,  likewife,  made 
toe  aflurne  the  title  of  Countefs,  but ,  has  ob 
liged  me  to  relinquilh  the  name  of  La  Tour, 
which  was  as  dear  to  me  as  to  yourfelf,  from 
the  troubles  which,  you  have  told  me,  my 
poor  father  underwent,  to  obtain  you  in 
marriage.  She  has  fubftituted  your  family 
name  m  its  place,  which  I  likewife  efteem, 
bccaufe  it  was  your's,  when  a  girl.  As  (he 
hasraifed  me  to  a  fituation  fo  exalted,  I  en 
treated  her  to  fend  you  feme  fupply :  how 
can  I  repeat  her  aniVer  ?  You,  however,  have 
always  commanded  me  to  fpeak  the  truth  ; 
this,  'then,  was  her  reply,  that  a  fmall  mat 
ter  would  be' of  no  Jufe  to  you  ;  and  that,  in 
the  fitnple  ftyle  of  life,  which  you  lead,  a 
great  deal  would  only  embarrafs  you. 

"  At  firft,  I  attempted  to  communicate 
to  you  tidings  of  my  fitnation,  by  the  hand  of 
another,  as  I  was  incapable  of  writing  my- 
felf ;  but,  not"  being  able  to  find,  fince  my  ar 
rival  here,  a  ilngle  perfon,  on  whofe  fidelity 
1  could  rely,  !  applied  myfelf,  night  and 
<iay,  to  the  means  of  learning  how  to  md 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  107 

and  write  ;  and,  by  the  afllftance  of  Heaven> 
I  accomplifhed  this  in  a  very  little  time.  I 
cntrulled  the  ladies,  who  attend  me,  with  the 
diipatch  of  my  former  letters,  but  I  have 
reafon  to  fufpeft,  that  they  delivered  thern  to, 
my  grand-aunt.  On  the  prefent  occaiion,  I 
have  had  recourfe  to  one  of  my  friends,  who 
is  a  fellow-boarder  ;  and  under  her  addrefs, 
which  I  have  fubjoined,  I  muft  beg  you  to 
convey  £n  aafwer.  My  grand-aunt  has  pro* 
hibited  all  foreign  correfpondence,  which 
might,  as  {he  alleges,  oppofe  infurmountable 
obftacles  to  the  fplendid  views,  which  (he  en* 
tertaifis  with  regard  ,to  me.  The  only  per* 
foil,  bends  herfelf,  who  vifits  me  at  the  grate, 
is  an  old  nobleman  of  her  acquaintance,  who, 
fhe  informs  me,  has  taken  a  great  liking  to 
my  perfon.  To  fay  the  truth,  I  have  not 
the  leaft  for  him,  even  were  it  poffible  I  fliould 
conceive  a  partiality  for  any  one  whatever. 

"  I  live  in  the  rnidft  of  gaudy  wealth,  and 
have  not  the  difpofal  of  a  fingle  farthing. 
They  tell  me,  that  if  I  had  the  command  of 
money,  it  might  lead  to  dangerous  confe- 
quences.  My  very  gowns  are  the  property 
of  my  waiting- women,  who  are  dilputlng 
which  fhall  have  them,  even  before  I  have 
left  them  off  myfelf.  Tn  the  very  bofom  of 
riches,  I  am  much  poorer  than  when  I  was 
with  yon,  for  I  have  nothing  to  give  away, 
When?I  found  that  the  many^magaifigent  ac- 


rcg  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

complifhrnents  which. I  was  defined  tone- 
quire,  were  not  to  procure  me  the  power  of 
doing  the  fmallell  good,  I  had  recourfe  to 
my  needle,  in  the  ufe  of  \Thich,  by  good  for 
tune,  you  had  inilrufted  me.    I,  accordingly  $ 
fend  you  ibme  pairs  of  Mockings,  of  my  own 
manufa&ure,  for  yourfelf,  and  iny  mama  Mar 
garet  ;  a  cap  for  Domingo,  and  one  of  my 
red  handkerchiefs  for  Mary:   I  en  dole  you, 
likewife,  in    this  packet,  the  kernels    of  the 
fruits  of  'which  our  deferts  are  compofed,  to 
gether  wSththefeeds  of  all  kinds  of  trees,  which 
I  gathered,  during  my  hours  of  recreation, 
in  the  garden  of  the  convent.     To  thefe  I  al- 
fo  add,  the  feeds  of  the  violet,  the  daify,  the 
butter-flower,  the  poppy,  the  blue-bottle  and 
the  fcabious,  which  I  have  picked  up  in  the 
fields,     In  the  meadows  of  this  country,  the 
flowers  are  far  more  beautiful  than  in  ours, 
but  no  one  pays  any  regard  to  them.     I  am 
very  well  allured,  that  you,  and  my  mama 
Margaret,  will  be  much  better  pleafed  with 
this   hag  of  feeds,   than  with  a  bag  of  piaf- 
tres,  which  was  the  caufe  of  cur  reparation, 
md    of  the  tears,  which  I    have  fince  fhed. 
I  lhall  feel  the  greateft  pleafure,  if,  one  day, 
you  have  the  fatisfaclion  of  feeing  apple-trees 
growing  befide  our  bananas,  and  beach-trees 
mixing  their  foliage  with  that  of  the  cocoas  : 
you  will  fancy  yourfeif  in  Normandy  agaify 
•which  you  itill  love  fo  much. 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  109 

"  You  enjoin  me  to  communicate  to  you  my 
joy,  and  my  forrows :  joy,  I  can  never  experi 
ence. when  at  a  diflance  from  you  ;  and  as  for 
my  forrows,  I  foothe  them  by  reflecting,  that  I 
am  in  a  fltuation  where  you  thought  proper  to 
place  me,  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  Heaven. 
My  moil:  cruel  mortification  is,  that  not  a  flngle 
perfon  here  mentions  your  name  to  me,  and, 
that  I  am  not  allowed  to  talk  of  you  to  any  one. 
My  waiting  women,  or  rather  thofe  of  my  grand- 
aunt,  for  they  are  her's,  more  than  mine,  tell  me, 
when  I  attempt  to  converfe  about  thofe  objects 
which  are  fodear  to  me  :  Madam,  remember  that 
you  are  now  a  French- worn  an,  and,  that  you  muft 
forget  the  country  of  favages.  Ah !  I  fhall  foon- 
er  forget  myfeif,  than  forget  the  place  where 
I  was  born,  and  where  you  itill  live  !  It  is  the 
country  where  I  am,  which,  to  me,  18  the  coun 
try  of  favages,  for  I  live  alone,  without  a  {in 
gle  perfon  to  whom  I  can  communicate  that 
love  for  you,  which  I  iliall  carry  with  me  to  the 
grave. 

"  Dear  and  much-loved  mother,  I  remain 
your  obedient  and  afteftionate  daughter. 

"  VIRGINIA  DE  LA  TOUR.'* 

"  I  recommend  to  your  kindeft  regards,  Ma 
ry  and  Domingo,  who  took  fuch  care  of  my  in 
fancy  :  ftroke  Fidele  for  me,  who  found  me  a- 
gain,  when  I  was  loft  in  the  woods." 
.  Paul  wag  much  furprifed  that  Virginia  had 
K 


no  ?AUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

not  made  the  leafl  mention  of  him  ;  {He,  who  hac 
not  even  forgotten  the  houfc-dog :  he  was  en 
tirely  ignorant,  that,  be  the  letter  of  a  female  a: 
long  as  k  may,  the  ^onderc  idea  always  comes  ii 
laft. 

In  a  poftfcript,  Virginia  particularly  recona- 
mended  to  Paul,  two  kinds  of  feeds,  thofe  of  th< 
violet  and  the  icabious.  She  gave  him  form 
information  refpedting  the  characters  of  theft 
plants,  and  about  the  places  in  which  it  was  mofl 
piv.per  to  fow  them.  The  violet^  rhe  told  him, 
produced  a  fmall  flower,  of  a  deep  blue  hue, 
which  delights  to  hide  itfelf  under  the  bufnes, 
but  is  foon  difcovered  by  its  delicious  perfume, 
She  dcfired  him  to  plant  it  on  the  brink  of  the 
fountain,  at  the  foot  of  the  cccca-trce.  "  The 
fcabious,"  added  fne,  "  l>eirs  a  pretty  flower  oi 
a  rau1  Mue,  and  its  bottom  is  black,  iiUerfperfec 
with  whiic  ipots.  One  would  think  it  to  be  in 
mourning  :  it  is  likewiie,  for  this  very  rcafcn, 
called  ihe  widow's  flower.  It  ftouriflies  belt  in 
p!ace>  ru^<cd,  and  agitated  by  the  winds."  She 
rec]ue.l'.:d  him  to  fow  it  on  the  rock,  where  fhc 
h:-ia  tn.ked  witli  him,  by  night,  for  the  lafi.  time, 
r.-'  i  :o  %\\r-2  that  rock,  for  her, lake,  the  name  of 
•Rock  Fare^dl. 

She  had  er.clofed  thefe  feeds,  in  a  little  purfe, 
the  embroidery  of  which  was  very  iirriplc,  but 
which  appeared  ineif.inia.ble  to  Paul,  when  he 
perceived  a  P  and  a  V  interwoven  in  it,  and 
formed  of  hair,  which  he  kr/uw,  by  its  beauty, 
to  ba  that  of  Virginia. 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  lit 

The  letter  of  this  fenflble  and  virtuous  young 
ady,  drew  tears  from  the  whole  family.  Ker 
nother  replied  in  the  name  of  the  whole  focie- 
:y,  ddrnng  her  either  to  remain,  or  return,  as 
he  thought  beft;  but  alluring  her,  that  they  had 
ill  loit  the  grcatell  portion  of  their  happinefs 
ince  her  departure,  and  that,  for  herfelf  in  par- 
icular,  (lie  was  quite  inconiblable. 

Paul  wrote  her  a  very  long  letter,  in  which 
le  aifured  her,  that  he  would  render  the  garden 
worthy  to  receive  her;  and,  in  like  manner  as 
lie  had  interwoven  their  names  in  hef  purie,  fo 
would  he  mingle  the  plants  of  Europe  'with 
hofe  of  Africa.  He  fent  her  feme  of  the  fruit 
>f  the  cocoa-trees  of  her  fountain,  now  arrived 
>o  perfect  maturity.  He  added,  that  he  would 
lot  fend  her  any  of  the  other  feeds  of  the  iilaiid, 
n  order  that  the  defire  of  feeing  its  productions 
once  more  might  determine  her  to  return  thith 
er  immediately.  He  importuned  her  to  do  this 
without  delay,  and  thus  gratify  the  ardent  w: fli 
es  of  their  family,  and  his  cwn  more  particul 
arly,  as,  henceforward,  he  could  taftenojoy  at 
a  di fiance  from  her. 

Paul  planted,  with  the  greateil  care,  tkefe 
European  grains,  and  above  all,  thofe  of  the 
violet  and  of  the  fcabious,  the  flowers  of  which 
feemed  to  have  feme  analogy  with  the  character 
and  the  fituation  of  Virginia,  who  had  fo  par 
ticularly  recommended  them  to  him  :  but  wheth 
er  they  had  been  corrupted  oa  their  pailage,  or 

K.  3 


m  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

whether,  which  is  more  probable,  the  climate  oi 
that  part  of  Africa  was  not  favorable  to  them, 
only  a  very  fmall  number  of  them  fprung,  and 
even  thefe  never  attained  to  a  ftate  of  perfection. 
Envy,  meanwhile,  which  frequently  even  out 
runs  the  happinefs  of  man,  efpecially  in  the 
French  colonies,  foon  circulated  reports  all  over 
the  ifiand,  which  gave  Paul  the  greatefc  uneafi- 
nefs.  The  people,  belonging  to  the  veflel  which 
had  brought  Virginia's  letter,  afferted,  that  flic 
tvas  on  the  point  of  marriage  ;  they  went  fo  far 
as  to  name  the  nobleman  who  was  to  obtain  her 
hand ;  nay,  fome  even  declared,  that  the  affair; 
xvas  over,  and  that  they  had  been  witnerTes  of  it. 
Paul,  at  firft,  defpifed  thefe  rumors,  conveyed  by 
a  trading  veffel,  'which  often  brings  falfe  reports 
from  the  places  which  it  touches^at  on  its  paf- 
fage :  but,  as  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
ifland,  from  a  perfidious  pity,  officioully  inter- 
pofed  to  condole  with  him  on  this  event,  he  be 
gan  to  give  fome  credit  to  it.  Befide,  in  iome 
of  the  romances  which  he  had  read,  he  faw 
treachery  treated  with  pleafantry,  and,  as  he  I 
fcnew  that  thefe  books  exhibited  a  faithful  pic-  i 
tureof  the  manners  of  Europe,  he  was  appre-i 
henfive  that  the  daughter  of  Madame  de  la 
Tour  might  have  become  corrupted,  and  have 
forgotten  her  earlier  engagements.  The  light 
which  he  had  acquired,  made  him  anticipate 
mifery,  and,  what  gave  a  finifh  to  his  fufpicions 
was,  that  feveral  European  vefels  had  arrived 


la 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA  lij 

within  the  year,  without  bringing  any  news 
whatever  of  Virginia. 

That  unfortunate  young  man,  abandoned  to 
all  the  agitations  of  a  heart  in  love,  came  fre 
quently  to  fee  me,  in  order  to  confirm,  or  to 
diffipate,  his  uneafmefs,  by  my  experience  of  the 
world. 

I  live,  as  I  have  told  you,  about  a  league  and 
a  half  from  hence,  on  the  bank  of  a  ihiall  river, 
which  flows  by  the  Long  Mountain.  There,  I 
pals  my  life  in  folitude,  without  a  wife,  without 
children,  and  without  Haves. 

Next  to  the  rare  felicity  of  finding  a  female 
partner  perfectly  fuited  to  a  man,  the  leaft  un 
happy  fituation  m  life  is  that  of  living  alone. 
Every  one,  who  has  had  much  reaibn  to  com 
plain  of  mankind,  fecks  for  folitude.  Nay,  it  is 
very  remarkable,  that  all  nations  rendered  mi£- 
erable  by  their  opinions,  their  manners,  or  by 
their  governments,  have  produced  numerous 
clalfes  of  citizens,  entirely  devoted  to  ibiitude 
and  to  celibacy.  Such  were  the  Egyptians  in 
their  decline,  and  the  Greeks 'of  the  Lower  Em 
pire  ;  and  fuch  c.rc,  in  our  days,  the  Indians,  the? 
Chinefe,  the  modern  Greeks,  the  Italians,  and 
the  greater!  part  of  the  Eaftern  and  Southern 
nations  of  Europe.  Solitude,  in  feme  degree, 
brings  rncin  back  to  his  natural  iiate  of  happi- 
nefs,  by  removing  the  misfortunes  oi  focial  life* 
In  the  midft  of  our  focicties,  torn  afunder  by  fo 
many  prejudices,  the  foul  is  in  a  itate  of  per- 
K  3 


114  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

petual  agitation  ;  it  is  continually  revoking,  j 
within  itielf,  a  thoufand  turbulent  and  contra 
dictory  opinions,  by  which  the  members  of  an 
ambitious  and  ,miferable  fociety  are  aiming  at 
ttiutual  fabje&ion  ;  but,  in  folitude,  it  laysafide 
thofe  extraneous  illufipns  which  difturb  h,  a.nd 
refumes  the  fimple  icntiment  of  itfelf,  of  nat-ire, 
and  of  its  Author.  Thus,  the  muddy  wafer, 
of  a  torrent,  which  lays  wade  the  country, 
fpreading  itfelf  into  fome  little  bafon,  remote 
from  its  current,  finks  the  miry  particles  to  the 
bottom  of  its  bed,  recovers  its  former  limpid- 
nefs,  a::d  having  again  become  tranfparent,  re 
flects,  with  its  own  banks,  the  verdure  of  the 
earth  and  the  light  of  the  heavens. 

Solitude  reftoresthe  harmony  of  the  body,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  foul.  It  is  among  folitary 
clalTes  of  people,  that  we  find  perfons,  who  live 
to  the  greatell  age,  as  among  thv  Bramins  of  In 
dia.  In  fhort,  I  believe  it  ib  necoflary  to  hap- 
pinefs,  even  in  the  commerce  of  the  world,  that 
I  conceive  it  inipoiTiblc  to  tafce  a  durable  pleaf- 
ure  in  it,  be  the  ilv.tim-rit  v/aat  it  may,  or,  to 
regulate  our  ccnducl:  by  any  eftablifhed  princi 
ple,  unlefs  we  form  an  internal  iclitude,  from 
v/hich  our  own  opinion  felrlom  takes  its  depar 
ture,  and  into  which,  that  cf  another  never  entei  s. 
I  do  not,  however,  mea  ;  bat  r:  is  the 

duty  of  man  to  V/  by;  Ms 

neceifities,  he  is  united  tp  the  i/ice; 

he,  for  that  reafon?  owes  hio  labor  to  mankind, 


PATH,  AND  VIRGINIA-.  115 

but  he  owes  himjelf,  likewife,  to  the  reft  of  na- 
:ure.  As  GOD  has  given,  to  each  of  us,  organs 
jxaclly  fuited  to  the  elements  of  the  globe,  on 

ich  we  live,  feet  to  the  foil,  lungs  to  the  air, 
ryes  to  the  light*  without  the  power  of  inter- 
hanging  the  ufe  of  thefe  fenfes.  He,  who  is  the 
nithor  of  life,  has  refer ved  for  himfelf  alone, 
Che  heart,  which  is  the  principal  organ. 

I  pafs  my  days,  then,  remote  from  man, 
irhom  I  have  wifhed  to  ferve,  and  who  have  re 
paid  me  with  perfecution.  After  having  trav 
elled  over  a  great  part  of  Europe,  and  feve- 
-al  regions  of  America,  and  of  Africa,  I  am 
\ow  fettled  in  this  iflarid,  fo  poorly  inhabited, 
educed  by  the  mildnefs  of  the  air,  and  by  its 
enchanting  folitudes.  A  cottage,  which  I  have 
>uilt  in  the  foreft  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  a  little 
field,  cleared  for  cultivation  by  my  own  hands, 
ind  a  river  which  flows  before  my  door,  are  ful 
ly  adequate  to  all  my  wants,  and  all  my  pleaf- 
ures.  I  add  to  thefe  enjoyments,  a  few  good 
books,  which  teach  me  to  become  better  :  they 
even  make  the  world,  which  I  have  quitted,  ft  ill 
contribute  to  my  happinefs,  by  prefenting  me 
with  pictures  of  thofe  paflions  which  render  its 
inhabitants  fo  miferable  ;  and  by  the  compari- 
fan  which  I  make  between  their  condition  and 
my  own,  they  procure  for  me  a  negative  felicity. 
Like  a  man  faved  from  fhipwreck.  feated  on  a 
rock,  I  contemplate  in  my  folitude,  the  ftorms 
which  are  raging  in  the  reft  of  the  world  ;  nay, 


jl6  PAUL  AKif  VIRGINIA, 

my  tranquillity  is  increafed  by  the  fury  of  thei 
diftant  tempeit,.  Since  men  (land  no  longer  in 
my  way,  and  fmce  I  am  no  longer  in  their's,  I 
have  ceafed  to  hate,  and  now  I  pity  them.  If 
I  meet  with  any  unfortunate  wretch,  I  try  to 
affifl  htm  by  my  counfels :  as  one,  palling  along 
the  briuk  of  a  torrent,  ftretches  out  his  hand  to 
an  unhappy  creature  drowning  in  it.  I,  how- 
ever,  have  found  innocence  alone  attentive  to 
my  voice.  Nature,  to  no  purpofe,  allures  to 
herfelf  the  reft  of  mankind ;  each  one  forms,  in  his 
mind,  an  image  of  her  which  he  invefls  with 
his  own  paffions.  He  purfues,  through  the 
whole  of  life,  the  vain  phantom  which  (till  mif- 
leads  him  ;  and  he  then  complains  to  Heaven 
of  the  illufion,  which  he  had  practiced  upon  him-* 
felf.  Among  ft  a  great  number  of  unfortunate 
wretches,  whom  I  have  fometimes  endeavoured 
to  bring  back  to  nature,  I  have  not  found  a  1m- 
?le  one,  who  was  not  intoxicated  with  his  own 
miferies.  They  liilened  to  me,  at  firft,  with  at 
tention,  in  hopes  that  I  was  going  to  auift  th-in 
in  acquiring  either  glory  or  fortune,  but  per 
ceiving  that  I  only  meant  to  teach  them  to  do 
without  thefe  things,  they  looked  upon  me  my- 
felf  as  a  miferable  wretch,  becauic  1  did  not 
pyrfue  their  wretched  felicity  :  they  condemned 
thefolitary  flv  tf  :  which  I  led,  pretended 
that  they  alone  v:rc  \:fefal  to  mankind,  and  en 
deavoured  to  draw  me  into  their  vortex.  But, 
though  my  heart  is  -open  to  all  the  world,  m/. 


PAUL  A*?D  VIRGINIA:  xir 

©pinions  are  biafled  by  no  one.  I  frequently 
find  enough  -within  my  own  bread  to  make  me 
ferve  as  a  lellbn  to  myielf*  In  my  prefent  calm, 
I  make  a  fecond  pafiage  through  the  agitations 
of  my  own  paft  life,  which  I  once  prized  fo 
highly  ;  the  protections,  the  fortune,  the  repu 
tation,  the  pleafures,  and  the  opinions,  which 
maintain  aconftant  conflict,  all  the  world  over. 
I  compare  thofe  fucceffive  tribes  of  men,  whom 
I  have  feen,  contending  with  fo  much  fury,  a- 
bout  mere  chimeras,  and  who  are  now  no  more, 
to  the  little  waves  of  my  rivulet,  which,  foam 
ing,  daih  themfelves  againft  the  rocks  of  its  bed, 
and  then  difappear,  never  more  to  return.  For 
my  own  part,  I  quietly  .commit  myielf  to  the 
river  of  time,  to  be  borne  down  toward  the 
ocean  of  futurity,  which  is  circumfcribed  with 
no  fliores,  and,  by  contemplating  the  actual  har 
monies  of  nature,  I  raife  myfelf  toward  its  Au 
thor,  and  thus  confole  myfelf,  with  the  expec 
tation  of  a  deftiny  more  happy,  in  the  world  to 
come. 

Although  the  multiplicity  of  objects,  which, 
from  this  elevation,  now  flrike  our  view,  are 
not  perceptible  from  my  hermitage,  which  is 
fittiated  in  the  centre  of  a  foreft,  ftill  the  har 
monies  of  that  fp,ot  are  very  interesting,  efpe- 
cially  for  a  man,  who,  like  me,  prefers  retiring 
into  hhnfelf,  to  ranging  abroad.  The  river, 
?,vhich  flows  before  my  door,  paffes  in  a  ftraight 
line,  acrofs  the  woods,  fo  that  my  eye  is  ilruck 


l*a  PAUL  AMD  VIRGINIA, 

with  a  long  canal,  overload  owed  with  tr 
of  variegated  foliage  ;  tatamaques,  the  ebo 
ny-tree,  and  what  is  here  called  apple-wood, 
olive-wood,  and  the  cinnamon  ;  groves  cf  paJm* 
trees,  here  and  there,  ntife  their  long  and  naked 
columns,  more  than  a  hundred  feet  high  ;  on 
their  tops  clutters  of  palms  grow,  while  the/ 
appear  like  one  foreft  piled  above  another,—* 
There  are,  likewife,  lianes  of  diiferent  colored 
leaves,  and  which,  iliooting  their  branches  from 
one  tree  to  another,  form,  here,  arcades  of  flow 
ers,  and  there,  long  feftoons  of  verdure.  Aro 
matic  odours  ifTue  from  moft  of  thefe  trees,  and 
their  perfumes  attach  themfelves  ib  ftrongly  to 
the  very  clothes,  that  the  fmell  adheres  to  a  per* 
fon,  who  has  croiTed  the  foreft,  for  feveral  hours 
afterwards.  In  the  feafon,  when  their  flowers 
are  in  full  bloom,  you  would  think  them  half 
covered  with  fnow.  At  the  end  of  the  fum- 
mer,  feveral  kinds  of  foreign  birds  come,  by  an 
unaccountable  iniiincT:,  from  unknown  regions, 
beyond  the  boundlefs  ocean,  to  pick  up  the  feed* 
of  the  vegetables  which  this  iiland  produces, 
and  oppofe  the  brilliancy  of  their  colors  to  the 
Verdure  of  the  trees,  embrowned  by  the  fun. 
Among  others,  different  kinds  of  paroquets,  and 
blue  pigeons,  which  are  here  called  the  pigeons 
of  Holland.  Monkeys,  the  domeftlcated  inhab 
itants  of  thefe  forefts,  amufe  themfelves  among 
the  dulky  branches,  from  which  they  detach 
themfelves  by  their  grey  and  greeniih  hair,  with 


FAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  119 

their  faces  entirely  black  ;  fome  fufpend  theni- 
felves  by  the  tail,  balancing  themfelves  in  the 
air  ;  others  leap  from  branch  to  branch,  carry 
ing  their  young  on$s  in  their  arms.  Never  has 
the  murderous  fufil  feared  thefe  peaceful  chiU 
dren  of  nature.  Here,  nothing  is  heard  but 
founds  of  joy,  the  unknown  warblings  and  the 
chirping  of  fome  of  the  Southern  birds,  which 
repeat  the  echoes  of  thcfe  foreHs  from  afar.  The 
driver,  which  flows  bubbling  over  a  rocky  bed, 
through  the  trees,  reflects,  here  and  there,  in  its 
limpid  Dream,  their  venerable  mailes  of  verdure 
and  of  fbade,  as  well  as  the  gambols  of  the  hap 
py  inhabitants  :  about  a  thoufand  paces  from 
hence,  it  precipitates  itfelf  down  different  flories 
of  the  rock,  and  forms,  in  its  fall,  a  fmooth 
iheet  of  water,  as  clear  as  cryftal,  which  rolling 
down,  breaks  itielf  amidft  billows  of  foam.  A 
thoufand  confufed  noiies  proceed  from  thefe  tu 
multuous  waters,  and  when  difperfed  by  the 
winds  of  the  fore  ft,  they -fome  times  fly  to  a  dif- 
tance,  and  fometimes  they  rufh  on  the  ear,  all  at 
once,  and  produce  a  {tunning  found,  like  that 
of  the  bells  of  a  cathedral.  The  air,  continual 
ly  refrefhed  by  the  motion  of  this  ftream,  keeps 
up,  upon  the  banks  of  the  river,  notwithiland- 
ing  the  burning  heats  of  fummer,  a  verdure, 
and  a  ccolnefs,  which  is  feldom  found  in  this 
ifland,  even  on  the  mountain  tops. 

At  forne  diitance  from  thence,  there  is  a  rock, 
remote  enough  from  the  -cafcade>  jx>  prevent 


120  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

your  being  deafened  with  the  noife  of  its  wa 
ters,  and  yet  Efficiently  near  for  you  to  enjoy 
the  fight  of  their  fall,  their  frefhnefs,  and  their 
murmuring.     During  the  «xceffive  heats,  Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour,    Margaret,  Virginia,  Paul 
and  I,  fometimes  dined  under  the  fhacle  of  this 
rock.     As  Virginia  always  employed  her  mi 
nuted  actions  for  the  benefit  of  others,  (he  never 
ate  a  fruit  in  the  country  without  planting  its 
feed,  or  its  kernel,  in  the  earth.    "  Trees,"  faid 
ihe,  "  will  fpring  from  thefe,  which  may,  one 
day,  give  their  fruits  to  fome  traveller,  or,  at 
leaft,  to  fome  bird."     Accordingly,  once  when 
fhe  had  been  eating  part  of  a  papaya,  at.  the  foot 
of  this  rock,  Ihe  planted  the  feeds  of  that  fruit ; 
there  foon  afterwards,  feveral  papayas  grew  up, 
among  which  was  a  female  plant,  that  is,  one 
which  bears  fruit.     This  tree,  at  Virginia's  de 
parture,  was  not  fo  high  as  her  knee,  but,  as  its 
growth  is  very  rapid,  it  attained,  three  years  af 
ter,  to  the  height  of  twenty  feet,  and  the  higher 
part  of  its  trunk  was  furrounded  with  feveral 
rows  of  ripe  fruit.     Paul,  having,  by  chance, 
wandered  to  this  place,  was  greatly  delighted  at 
feeing  iuch  a  large    tree,  grovm  from  a  feed, 
which  he  had  feen  planted  by  the  hand  of  his 
friend  ;  but,  at. the  lame'  time,  he  funk  into  a 
profound  melancholy,  on  observing  this  teftfe 
mony  of  her  long  abfence.     By  objects,  which 
we  habitually  behold,  we  are  unable  to  perceive 
with  what  rapidity -our  life  paffes  away  ;  theft 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  X2I 

* 

as  well  as  ourfelves,  grow  old,  with  an  imper 
ceptible  decay  :  but  thofe,  which  we  fuddenly 
fee  again,  after  feveral  years  abfence,  admonifli 
us  of  the  fwiftnefs  with  which  the  ftream  of  our 
cUys  flows  on.  Paul  was  as  much  furprifed, 
and  as  forrowful,  at  the  fight  of  this  large  pa* 
paya,  loaded  with  fruit,  as  a  traveller  is,  who, 
on  his  return  to  his  native  country,  after  a  long 
abfence,  finds  thofe  who  were  his  contemporaries 
to  be  no  more,  and  fees  their  children,  whom  he 
had  left  at  the  breaft,  themfelves  become  fathers 
of  families.  Sometimes  he  was  going  to  cut  it 
down,  as  it  made  him  too  fcnfible  of  the  length 
of  time  winch  had  elapfed  fince  Virginia's  de 
parture  ;  at  other  times,  confidering  it  as  a  mo 
nument  of  her  beneficence,  he  killed  its  trunk, 
and  addrefTed  to  it  thefe  words,  dictated  by  love 
3ind  regret :  "  Oh,  tree,  whofe  pofterity  ftill  ex- 
ids,  in  our  woods,  I  view  thee  with  more  con 
cern  and  veneration,  than  the  triumphal  arches 
of  the  Romans  i  May  nature,  which  is  daily 
destroying  the  monuments  of  the  ambition  of 
king?,' multiply,  in  thefe  forefts,  thofe  of  the  be- 
sieiicenee  of  a  young  and  unfortunate  girl." 

It  was  at  the  foot  of  this  papaya-tree,  that  I 
\vas  certain  of  feeing  Paul,  whenever  he  came 
to  ray  habitation,  f ,  one  day,  found  him  there, 
plunged  in  melancholy,  and  T  held  a  converfa- 
ticn  with  him,  which  I  will  repeat  to  you,  unlefs 
1  lire  you  by  my  long  digremons  ;  they  howe 
ver,  arc  pardonable  in  a  perfon,  of  iny  age,  and 


*i*  PAUL  AN*  VIRGINIA. 

more  fc,  as  they  KaVe  a  reference  to  1717  lafl 
friendfhips.  I  will  relate  it,  in  form  of  a  dia 
logue,  that  you  may  judge  of  the  excellent  nat 
ural  fcnfe  of  this  young  man,  and  it  will  be  eafy 
for  you-  to  difcover  who  is  die  fpeaker,  by  the 
meaning  of  his  queiUons,  and  by  the  anfwers. 

He  &id  to  me  : 

"  I  am  very  low  fpirited.  Mademoifclic  de 
la  Tour  has  been  gone  thefe  three  years  and  a 
half ;  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  pad,  *he  has  not 
fent  us  any  news  of  herfelf.  She  is  rich,  and  I 
am  poor  :  (he  has  certainly  forgotten  me.  My 
inclination  prompts  me  ftrongly  to  embark  ior 
France  ;  I  will  enter  into  the  fervice  of  the  king; 
I  will  make  a  fortune,  and  the  grand-aunt  of 
Mademoifelle  de  la  Tour  will  give  me  her  niece 
Jn  marriage,  when  I  fliall  have  become  a  great 
Lord." 

Old  Man.  "  My  good  friend,  have  you  not 
told  me,  that  your  birth  is  ignoble  I" 

Paul.  "  So  my  mother  has  told  me  :  for  my 
own  part,  I  do  not  fo  much  as  know  the  mean 
ing  of  the  word,  birth.  I  never  difcovered 
that  I  was  more  deficient  there  than  another, 
or  that  any  other  peribn  poiTeifed  it  more  than 
I  do." 

Old  Man*  "  Deficiency  in  birth  will,  in  France, 
effectually  exclude  you  from  any  diftinguiihed 
employment  ;  what  is  more,  no  corps  of  any 
diibnclion  will  admit  you." 

Paul*    "  You  have  often  informed  me,  that 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  nj 

one  of  the  chief  caules  of  the  prefent  greatnefs 
of  France  was,  that  the  lowed  fubjecl:  might 
obtain  the  higheil  polls  ;  and  you  have  given 
me  many  initances  of  celebrated  men,  who, 
riling  from  a  low  condition,  had  done  honor 
to  their  country.  Do  you  mean  to  damp  my 
courage  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  My  fon,  nothing  is  farther  from 
my  intention  :  I  told  you  the  truth,  bur  it  re 
lated  to  times  pall.  The  face  cf  affairs,  in 
France,  is,  at  prefent,  greatly  altered  ;  every 
thing  there  is  now  become  venal ;  all  is  the  he 
reditary  property  of  a  fmall  number  of  families, 
or  is  divided  among  incorporated  afibciations. 
The  king  is  a  luminary,  furrounded  by  the  no 
bility,  and  by  different  corps,  as  by  fo  many- 
clouds,  and  it  is  hardly  poilible  that  one  of  his 
rays  fhould  fall  upon  you.  Formerly,  in  an 
admintftnuion  lefs  complicated,  fuch  phenomena 
were  to  be  feen.  Then,  talents  and  merit  were 
difciofed  on  every  fide,  like  as  frefh  grounds, 
which  have  juft  been  cleared,  are  productive 
with  all  their  rich  juices.  But  great  kings,  who 
know  mankind,  and  how  to  make  choice  among 
them,  are  very  rare.  Kings,  in  general,  allow 
themielves  to  be  bialfed  by  the  grandees,  and 
ailbciations  which  furround  them." 

Pt::iL  "  But  probably  I  fliall  find  one  of 
thofe  great  men,  who  will  take  me  under  his 
protection." 

Old  Man.    "  The  protection  of  the  great3  i$ 


114  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

to  be  obtained  only  by  ferving  either  their  a 
tion  or  their  pleafure.  You  can  never  fucceed 
with  them,  ior  your  birth  js  mean,  ana  your 
probity  is  untainted." 

Paid.  "  But  I  will  perform  actions  fo  daring, 
I  will  keep  my  promifes  fo  inviolate,  I  will  ib 
punctually  fulfil  the  duties  of  ray  fitiia-Jo*,i,  I 
will  be  fo  zealous  and  fo  conilant  in  my  friend- 
fliips,  as  to  merit  adoption  from  fome  of  them, 
which  I  have  feen  frequently  to  be  the  cafe,  in 
thofe  ancient hLftorieswhich  you  gave  me  to  read.37 

Old  Man.  "  Ah,  my  good  friend  !  among 
the  Greeks  and  Romans,  even  in  their  decline, 
the  higher  orders  of  men  always  paid  refpc-cl  to 
virtue  ;  we  have  &ad,  indeed,  a  great  ni::i:bv,:  cf 
celebrated  perlbnages,  of  all  defcriptions,  dart 
ing  up  from  among  the  common  people,  but  I 
do  not  know  of  a  fmgle  one  vho  has  been  adopt 
ed  into  a  family  of  rank.  But  for  our  kings, 
virtue  would,  in  France,  be  condemned  to  eter 
nal  plebeianifm.  As  I  have  often  told  you, 
they  fometimes  honor  virtue  when  they,  perceive 
it ;  but  in  the  prefent  day,  the  diftinction  which, 
in  juftice,  fhould  obtain,  is  to  be  purchafed  on 
ly  vith  money." 

Paul.  "  In  cafe,  then,  I  do  not  procure  fup- 
pcrt  from  the  great,  I  will  endeavour  to  render 
jnyfelf  ufeful  to  fome  corps.  I  will  adept  its 
fpirit,  and  its  opinions,  entirely  ;  I  'will  make 
tnyfelf  beloved." 

Old  Man.    "  You  \vill  acl,  then,  like  other 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  *i$ 

men  I  you  will  facrifice  your  integrity  to  pur- 
chafe  fortune  2" 

PattL  "  Oh,  no  !  the  fearch  of  truth  fliall  be 
ray  only  aim." 

Old  Man.  "  Inftead  of  making  yourfelf  be* 
loved,  you  will,  moft  probably,  expofe  yourfelf 
to  hutred.  Befid^,  incorporated  aiTociations  in- 
tereft  themfelves  very  little  in  the  difcovery  of 
truth.  To  the  ambitious,  every  opinion  is  in- 
different,  provided  they  domineer." 

Paul.  "  How  unfortunate  am  I  \  I  am  di£ 
couraged  on  every  fide.  I  am  doomed  to  pafs 
my  life  in  labci  and  obfcurity,  far  from  Vir 
ginia,"  And  he  heaved  a  deep  figh. 

Old  Man.  c<  Let  the  Almighty  be  your  only 
patron,  and  the  human  race  your  corps  ;  be 
firmly  attached  both  to  the  one  and  to  the  other* 
Families,  aifociations,  nations,  and  kings,  have 
their  prejudices  and  paiHons,  and  vice  is  often 
requisite,  in  order  to  ferve  them  as  they  defire. 
But  to  ferve  GOD  and  the  human  race,  we  have 
occaflon  to  excrcife  virtue  only. 

"  But,  why  do  you  wifh  to  be  diiKnguifhed 
from  the  reft  of  mankind  ?  It  js  an  unnatural 
fentimcjnt,  for  if  it  v.-ere  uniyeriai,  every  man 
^oald  be  at  war  with  his  neighbour.  Satisfy 
year  ( elf  with  fulfilling  the  duties  of  that  ftation^ 
:a  which  Providence  has  placed  you  :  rejoice 
in  your  dcftiny,  which  allows  you  to  IT  tain  tain 
your  integrity  pure,  and  does  not  oblige  you, 
ir*  imlrjitiou  of  the  great,  to  place  your  happi* 
L  3 


126  PAUL  AND  VIRRGINIA. 

ncfs  in  the  opinion  of  the  lower  ranks  ;  nor,  in 
imitation  of  the  lower,  to  cringe  to  their  fupe- 
riors,  in  order  to  procure  the  means  of  fubfift- 
ence.  You  are  in  a  country,  and  in  a  iltuation, 
where  you  can  find  a  living,  without  any  occa- 
ilon  either  to  deceive,  to  flatter,,  or  to  debate 
yourielf,  as  the  generality  of  thofe  arc  obliged 
to  do,  who  purfue  fortune  in  Europe  ;  in  a  iitua- 
tion,  v/here  your  condition  does  not  prohibit 
your  exercifing  any  virtue:  v/here  you  can,  v/ith 
impunity,  be  good,  faithful,  fmcere,  intelligent, 
patient,  temperate,  chafle,  indulgent,  pious  : 
and  where  no  malignant  fneer  will  intcrpofe  to 
blaft  your  wifdom,  which  is  Hill  only  in  the  bud. 
Heaven  has  beftowed  on  you,  liberty,  health,  a 
good  confcience,  and  friends :  Kings,  whofe  fa 
vor  you  are  fo  ambitious  of  obtaining,  are  not 
near  fo  happy." 

Paul.  "Alas!  Virginia  is  flill  wanting  to 
jne  ;  without  her,  I  have  nothing  ;  with  her,  I 
fhould  pofTefs  every  thing.  She,  alone,  is  my 
birth,  my  glory,  and  niy  fortune  :  but  her  aunt 
muft,  no  doubt,  have  beftowed  her,  in  marri 
age,  on  a  man  of  high  reputation  !  By  means 
of  books  and  ftudy,  however,  men  may  become 
learned  and  celebrated :  I  will  acquire  knowl 
edge,  by  dint  of  intenfe  application  :  I  will  ren 
der  a  ufeful  fervice  to  my  country,  by  my  fu- 
perior  illumination,  and  will  neither  offend  any 
one,  nor  be  dependent  on  him  :  my  fame  will 
be  illuftrious,  and  the  glory  which  I  may  obtain 
be  entirely  my  own," 


PAUL  AKB  VIRGINIA.  l*r 

Old  Man.  "  My  fon,  talents  are  dill  more  rare 
than  either  birth  or  riches ;  and  doubtleis,  they 
are  the  moil  invaluable  po/Teffions.,  became  no 
thing  can  deprive  us  of  them,  and  becaufe  they- 
univerfally  conciliate  public  edeem.  But  they 
:oii  a  man  dear  ;  they  are  to  be  obtained  only 
t>y  privations  of  every  kind  ;  by  an  exquiiite 
fenfibility,  which  renders  us  unhappy,  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  by  the  perfecution  of  our 
contemporaries.  In  France,  the  lawyer  does 
not  envy  the  gicry  of  the  foldier,  nor  the  foldier 
that  of  the  failor,  but  every  body  will  thwart 
you  there,  becaufe  every  body  piques  himfelf 
on  his  underftanding.  You  will  ferve  man 
kind,  fay  you  ?  But  the  perfon,  who  produces 
them  a  {ingle  fheaf  of  corn  from  the  ground > 
does  them  a  far  more  profitable  fervice  than  he 
who  gives  them  a  book." 

Pad.  "  Oh  S  (he  who  planted  this  papaya  has 
given  the  inhabitants  of  thefe  foreifo,  a  much 
more  uiefui  and  delightful  prefent,  than  if  fhe 
had  given  them  a  library  :"  and  as  he  fpake,, 
he  took  the  tree  in  his  arms,  anA  .kiflfed  it  with 
tranfport. 

Old  Man.  "  The  bed  book  that  ever  was. 
written,  which  inculcates  only  the  doctrines  of 
friendfhip,  equality,  humanity,  and  concord, 
namely,  the  Gofpel,  has  ferved,  for  many  ages, 
paft,  as  a  pretext  for  the  ravages  of  European 
cruelty.  How  many  public  and  private  tyran 
nies  are  daily  practifed  on  the  earth,  in  its  name  \ 


t&  PAUL  Afcfc  VIRGINIA, 

After  that,  who  can  flatter  himfelf  with  the 
hope  of  being  ufeful  to  mankind  by  a  book  ? 
Call  to  mind  what  has  beenthefateofntoftofthofs 
philofophers,  who  preached  up  wifdom  lo  man. 
Homer,  who  clothed  it  in  verfes  fo  beautiful, 
was  reduced  to  beg  his  bread  all  his  life  long. 
Socrates,  who  gave  to  the  Athenians  fuch  ex 
cellent  leflbns  of  it,  both  by  his  difcourfes  and 
by  his  manners,  was  condemned  by  them  to  fwal- 
low  poifon,  conformably  to  the  fentence  of  a 
court  of  juftice.  His  fublime  difciple,  Plato, 
was  doomed  to  flavery,  by  order  of  the  very 
prince,  who  protected  him  ;  and,  before  their 
time,  Pythagoras,  who  extended  his  humanity 
even  to  the  brute  creation,  was  burned  alive  by 
the  Crotonians  :  what  do  I  fay  ?  The  greateft 
part  of  thefe  illuftrious  names  have  descended 
to  us,  disfigured  by  fome  traits  of  fatire,  which 
characterize  them  :  for,  human  ingratitude  de 
lights  to  lay  hold  on  thefe  :  if  however,  among 
the  crowd,  the  glory  of  any  hath  reached  our 
ears  pure  and  untainted,  they  are  thofe,  who 
have  lived  fir  fern  the  fociety  of  their  contem- 
poraries  ;  like  tnbfe  ftatues,  which  are  extracted 
entire,  out  of  the  fields  of  Greece  and  Italy,  and 
which,  by  being  buried  in  the  bofora.  of  the  earth, 
have  efcaped  the  fury  of  -the  barbarians. 

"  You  fee,  then,  that,  in  order  to  acquire  the 
tempeftuous  glory  of  literary  fame,  it  is  nece£ 
fary  to  exercife  much  virtue,  and  to  be  ready  to 
facrifice  life  itfelf,  Befides,  do  you  imagine,  that 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA  1*9 

this  'glory  interefts  wealthy  people  in  France  J 
They  greatly  carefs  literary  men,  whofe  learning 
does  not  raife  them  to  any  dignity  in  their 
country,  or  to  any  fituation  under  government, 
nor  procure  the-m  admiffion  at  court.  Perfecu- 
tion  is  little  pra&ifed  in  this  age,  fo  indifferent 
to  every  thing  except  fortune  and  pleafure  ;  but 
knowledge  and  virtue  feldoni  raife  a  perfon, 
there,  to  a  diftinguifhed  rank,  becaufe  every 
thing  in  the  ftate  is  to  be  procured  with  money, 
Formerly,  thefe  qualities  were  fure  of  meeting 
a  recompenfe,  by  places  either  in  the  church,  in 
the  magiftracy,  or  in  the  adminiftration ;  but, 
at  prefent,  they  are  good  only  for  making  books. 
This  fruit,  however,  fo  little  prized  by  the  men 
of  the  world,  is  ever  worthy  of  its  celeftial  origin. 
It  is  to  thefe  very  books,  that  the  honor  is  refer- 
ved  of  beftowing  luftre  on  obfcure  virtue,  of  ^con- 
fcling  the  unfortunate,  of  enlightening  nations, 
and  of  declaring  the  truth,  even  to  kings.  It 
is  undoubtedly,  the  mod  facred  office  with  which 
Heaven  can  invefl  a  mortal  on  this  earth.  Where 
is  the  man,  who  has  it  not  in  his  power  to  confole 
himfelf  for  the  injuftice,  or  the  contempt,  of 
thole,  who  have  the  difpofal  of  fortune,  when  he 
reflects,  that  his  work  will  be  handed  down  from 
age  to  age,  from  nation  to  nation,  and  will 
ferve  as  a  barrier  againft  error  and  tyranny  ;  and 
that,  from  the  boforn  of  obfcurity,  in  which  he 
has  lived,  a  glory  may  iflue,  which  (hall  eclipfe 
that  of  the  greateft  part  of  Kings.,  whofe 


130  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

uments    fink  into  oblivion,  in  fpite  of  the  flat 
terers  who  reared,  and  who  extol  them  ?" 

Paul.  "  Ah!  I  fliould  covet  this  glory,  only 
to  diffufe  its  luflre  over  Virginia,  and  to  render 
her  dear  10  all  the  world.  But  you,  who  have 
fo  much  experience,  tell  me,  whether  we  fball 
ever  marry  ?  I  wiih  to  be  a  fcholar,  at  leaft  to 
know  what  J  am  to  expect  in  future," 

Old  Man.  "  Who  would  wifti  to  live,  my 
fon,  if  he  knew  what  was  to  befal  him  hereafter  I 
A  tingle  forcfeen  calamity  occajQons  a  thousand 
vain  anxieties  :  the  certain  profpcct  of  a  heavy 
affliction  would  embitter  all  the  days  which 
might  precede  it.  Indeed,  it  is  not  proper  to 
inquire  too  deeply,  even  into  furrounding  ob 
jects  ;  Heaven,  which  beftcws  reflection  upon 
us,  in  order  that  we  may  forefee  our  nee t {Titles, 
has  alfo  given  us  nectffities,  to  jfet  bounds  to 
Our  reflection." 

Paul.  You  tell  me,  that,  in  Europe,  dignities 
and  honors  are  to  be  purchafed  with  money. 
I  will  go  and  acquire  wealth  in  Bengal,  and  then 
direct  my  courfe  toward  Paris,  and  efpoufe  Vir 
ginia.  I  will  go  and  e-mbark  immediately." 

Old  Man.  "  How  !  will  you  leave  her  mother 
and  your  own  ?" 

Paul.  "  Why,  you  yourfclf  advifed  me  to  go 
to  India." 

Old  Man.  "When  I  gave  you  that  advice, 
Virginia  was  here.  But,  at  prefent,  ycu  ars 
the  only  fupport  of  your  mothers." 


PAUL  ANB  VIRGINIA. 


Paul.  i;  Virginia  will  fend  them  the  means 
fuhfidence  from  the  bounty  of  her  rich  re 


lation, 


Old  Man.  "  Rich  people  aflift  thofe  only  who 
Jjay  homage  to  them  in  the  world.  They  have 
relations  much  rotfre  to  be  pitied,  than  Madame 
de  la  Tour,  and  who,  for  want  of  fupport  from 
them  facrifice  their  liberty  for  the  fake  of  bread, 
and  pals  their  lives  (hut  up  in  a  convent." 

Paul.  "  What  a  dreadful  country  Europe  is  ! 
Oh  i  Virginia  muft  return  hither.  What  oc- 
cafion  has  the  for  a  rich  relation  ?  How  happy 
ine  once  was,  under  thefe  lowly  roofs,  how 
beautiful,  and  how  charming,  when  her  head 
*MS  adorned  with  a  red  handkerchief,  or  a 
wreath  of  flowers.  Oh,  Virginia,  return,  leave 
thy  palaces  and  thy  greatnefs  ;  return  to  thefe 
rocks,  to  the  ihade  of  thefe  woods,  and  to  our 
cocoa-trees,  Alas  !  perhaps  at  this  very  mo 
ment,  thou  art  mifer-able."  -  Saying  this,  he 
burft  into  tears-  «  Father,"  cried  he,  «  con 
ceal  nothing  from  me  ;  if  you  are  unable  to  tell 
me  whether  I  fhall  ever  marry  Virginia,  inform 
me,  at  leaft,  whether  fhe  ft  ill  loves  me,  though 
furrounded  by  great  men,  who  ulk  to  the  king, 
and  who  vifit  her  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  Yes,  my  frknd.  I  am  convinced, 
by  many  reafons,  that  (he  loves  you,  but  prin 
cipally  by  this,  that  ihe  is  virtuous.'5  At  thefe 
words,  he  clafped  me  round  the  neck,  trunfport- 
cd  with  joy. 


»3i  PAUL  AN&  VIRGINIA. 

Paul  "  But  do  you  believe  European  worn* 
«tt  to  be  fo  inconftant,  as  they  are  reprefented  on 
the  flage,  and  in  thofe  books,  which  you  have 
lent  me  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  In  thofe  countries  where  men 
tyrannize,  the  women  are  always  inconftant.-— 
Violence  ever  produces  deceit." 

Paul.  "  How  is  it  poffible  for  a  man  to  ex- 
ercife  tyranny  over  a  woman  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  By  forcing  women  into  mar 
riage,  without  any  regard  to  their  own  inclina 
tions  ;  a  young  girl  to  an  old  man,  a  woman  of 
feeling  to  a  man  of  infenfibility." 

Paul.  "  Why  do  they  not  rather  unite  thofe 
together,  who  are  more  fuitable  to  each  other ; 
the  young  with  the  young,  and  lovers  with  thofe 
on  whom  their  affections  are  fixed  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  The  reafon  is,  that,  in  France, 
the  generality  of  young  men  have  not  fufficient 
fortune  to  enable  them  to  marry,  and  that  they 
feldom  acquire  a  competency  till  they  are  ad 
vanced  in  years.  In  their  youth,  they  feduce 
the  wives  of  their  neighbours,  and,  when  old, 
they  are  unable  to  fecure  the  affections  of  their 
own  wives.  When  young,  they  deceive  others, 
and  when  old,  are,  in  their  turn,  deceived  them- 
feives.  It  is  one  of  the  re-actions  of  that  uni-i 
verfal  juftice  which  governs  the  world  :  in  it, 
one  excefs  always  balances  another.  I'hus,  moil! 
Europeans  pafs  their  lives  in  a  twofold  diforder,:i 
and  this  disorder  is  inaeafcd  in  a  focicty,  pro- 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  i^ 

pbrtionably  as  riches  are  accumulated  on  a 
Imallcr  number  of  individuals.  The  ftate  re- 
fembles  a  garden,  in  which  fir.  all  trees  are  una 
ble  to  arrive  at  perfection,  if  others  too  great 
overiliadow  them  ;  but  there  is  this  manifeil 
difference,  that  the  beauty  of  a  garden  may  re- 
fult  from  a  fmalJ  number  of  large  trees,  but  the 
profperity  of  a  flate  ever  depends  on  the  multi 
tude  and  equality  of  the  fubjecls,  and  not  on  a 
fznall  number,  who  monopolize  its  wealth." 

Paul*  "  But  why  is  want  of  money  a  hin 
drance  to  marriage  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  Becaufe  after  a  man  has  enter 
ed  into  that  ftate,  he  wilnes  to  pafs  his  days  in 
abundancej  without  the  necefiity  of  laboring." 

Paul.   "  And  why  not  labor  ?  I  myfelf  work 
;    hard." 

Old  Man.  "  The  reafon  is,  that,  in  Europe, 
manual  labor  is  deemed  dishonorable.  It  is 
there  called  mechanical  labor  :  nay,  that  of  cul 
tivating  the  ground  is  efteemed  the  moft  defpica- 
ble  of  all.  There  the  artlfan  holds  a  far  higher 
rank  than  the  peafant." 

Paul.  "  How  !  the  art,  which  fupplies  man 
with  food,  defpifed  in  Europe  !  I  do  not  under- 
dand  you." 

Old  Man.  "  Oh  !  it  is  impofTible  for  a  man 
educated  in  a  ft  ate  of  nature,  to  comprehend 
the  depravity  of  a  ilate  of  fociety.  Though 
fuch  a  one  is  able  to  form,  in  his  own  mind,  an 
exact  idea  of  order,  he  cannot  form  one  of  dif- 
M 


|J4  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

erder.  Beauty,  virtue,  and  happinefs,  have 
propartions ;  deformity',  vice,  and  mifery,  have 
none." 

Paul.  "  The  rich,  then,  are  very  happy  ;  no 
obftacles  lie  in  their  way  ;  and  on  the  objects  of 
their  love,  they  can  beftow  pleafures  without 
end." 

Old  Man.  "  They  are,  for  the  mod  part,  in- 
fenfible  to  any  pleafure,  becaufe  the  attainment 
of  it  cofts  them  no  trouble.  Does  not  experi 
ence  teach  you,  that  the  enjoyment  of  repofe  is 
purchafed  by  fatigue  ;  that  of  eating,  by  hun 
ger  ;  that  of  drinking,  by  thirft  ?  In  like  man 
ner,  that  of  loving,  and  of  being  beloved,  is 
only  to  be  obtained  by  a  multitude  of  priva 
tions  and  facrifices.  Their  wealth  deprives  rich 
people  of  all  thefe  pleafures,  by  outrunning  their 
necefllties.  Add,  befides,  to  the  difguft,  which 
always  follows  fatiety,  that  pride,  which  fprings 
from  their  opulence,  and  which  the  lead  priva 
tion  wounds,  even  wlien  the  greateft  enjoyments 
have  ceafed  to  flatter  it.  The  perfume  of  a 
thoufand  rofes  only  pleafes  for  a  fmgle  moment ; 
but  the  pain  inflicted  by  one  of  their  thorns, 
la/Is  a  long  time  after  the  wound  is  received. 
To  the  rich,  one  misfortune,  in  the  midft.  of  ma 
ny  enjoyments,  is  a  thorn  furrounded  by  flow 
ers  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  to  the  poor,  one  pleaf 
ure,  in  the  middle  of  many  calamities,  is  a 
flower  furrounded  on  every  fide  by  thorns.-— 
They  find  a  poignant  relifh  in  their  enjoyments. 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  *jj 

Every  effect  is  heightened  by  its  contraft  ;  na- 
ture  has  balanced  all  things  equally.  Every 
thing  confidered  then,  which  ftate  do  you  con* 
ceive  to  be  preferable,  that  of  having  nothing 
to  hope  for,  and  all  to  fear,  or,  that  of  having 
nothing  to  fear,  and  every  thing  to  hope  for  ?  The 
firft  of  thefe  ftates  is  that  cf  the  rich  \  the  fee- 
ond,  that  of  the  poor,  Thefe  extremes,  how* 
ever,  are  equally  difficult  to  be  fupported  by 
man,  whofe  happinefs  confifts  in  mediocrity  and 
virtue." 

Paid.  "  What  do  you  underftand  by  the 
word  virtue  ?" 

Old  Man.  "  My  fon,  you  who  fupport  your 
parents  by  the  labor  of  your  hands,  have  no 
occafion  for  a  definition  of  it.  Virtue  is  an  ef 
fort  made  upon  ourfelves,  for  the  good  of  oth 
ers,  in  the  view  of  pleafing  GOD  only." 

Paul.  "  Oh,  how  virtuous  then  is  Virginia ! 
Virtue  was  her  aim,  when  fhe  wifhed  to  become 
rich,  in  order  that  fhe  might  exercife  benefi 
cence  5  virtue  made  her  leave  this  ifland,  and 
virtue  will  reflore  her  to  us."  The  idea  of  her 
fpcedy  return,  kindling  the  young  man's  ima 
gination,  all  his  difquietude  vanifhed  in  an  in- 
ftant.  Virginia  had  not  written,  becaufe  fhe 
was  on  the  point  of  returning  in  perfon  :  fo  lit 
tle  time  was  necefTary  to  return  from  Europe, 
with  a  fair  wind*  He  enumerated  inftances 
of  vefTels,  which  had  made  this  voyage,  of  more 
than  four  thoufand  five  hundred  leagues,  in  Jefs 
M  z 


Jj6  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

than  three  months.  The  vefTel  in  which  fte 
had  embarked  would  not  take  more  than  two, 
The  builders  of  the  prefent  day  were  fo  fld!ful, 
and  the  mariners  fo  alert.  He  talked  of  the  ar 
rangements  which  he  would  make  for  her  re 
ception  5  of  the  new  habitation,  which  he  in 
tended  to  build  ;  and  of  the  pleafures  and  the 
agreeable  furprife  which  he  would  contrive  for 
her  every  day,  when  (he  became  his  wife— his 
wife,— The  idea  ravifhed  his  fenfes.  "  As  for 
you/ father,"  faid  he  to  me,  «  you,  in  future, 
fnail  do  nothing  but  enjoy  yourfelf.  Virginia 
poifeiTes  wealth,  and  we  can  purchafe  plenty  of 
..negroes,  who  will  work  for  you.  You  iliall  be 
y/ith  qs  always,  and  nothing  fhall  employ  your 
mind,  but  amufement  and  pleafure."  Imme 
diately,  he  flew,  like  one  di drafted,  to  commu 
nicate  to  his  family  the  joy  with  which  he  him- 
felf  -was  intoxicated. 

Exceffive  fears  foon  fucceed  the  mod  fan- 
guine  h.&pes.  Violent  paffions  always  plunge 
the  foul  into  contrary  extremes.  Frequently,  on 
the  morrow,  Paul  came  to  fee  me,  overwhelm 
ed  with  grief.  He  faid  to  me,  "  Virginia  has 
not  written  to  me  :  had  fhe  left  Europe,  flie 
would  certainly  have  informed  us  of  it.  Ah  I 
the  reports  which  have  been  fpread  concerning 
her,  are  but  too  well  founded  :  her  aunt  has 
certainly  married  her  to  fome  nobleman.  The 
love  of  wealth  has  corrupted  her,  as  is  the  cafe 
V'ith  fo  many  others.  In  thofe  books,  which 


PAUL  A*D  VIRGINIA.  137 

fo  well  defcribe  the  character  of  the  female  fex, 
virtue  is  merely  a  fubject  for  romance*  Had 
Virginia  poffefTed  virtue,  flie  would  not  have 
quitted  her  own  mother  and  me.  "While  I  pafs 
my  life,  with  my  thoughts  entirely  fixed  on  her, 
fhe  has  caft  me  from  her  remembrance.  I  am 
tormenting  myfelf,  and  fhe  is  loft  in  diffipation* 
Ah  !  that  thought  plunges  me  into  defpair.*— 
All  labor  difguits  me,  and  fociety  is  a  burthen* 
Would  to  GOD,  that  War  would  break  out  in 
India,  that  I  might  haften  thither,  and  throw 
Jnyfelf  into  the  jaws  of  death." 

"  My  fon,"  replied  I,  "  that  courage  which 
makes  us  rufh  on  to  meet  death,  is  the  courage 
of  only  a  fmgle  moment*  It  is  often  excited 
by  the  vain  applaufe  of  man.  There  is  a  fpecies 
of  courage  more  rare,  and  ftill  more  neceflaryi 
which  enables  us  daily  to  fupport  the  misfor 
tunes  of  life,  without  a  witnefs,  and  without 
praife  ;  what  I  mean  is  patience*  It  refts  not 
on  the  opinion  of  another,  nor  on  the  impulfe 
of  our  own  pafHons,  but  on  the  will  of  GOD* 
Fatience  is  the  courage  of  virtue." 

"  Ah  !  then,"  cried  he,  "  I  have  no  virtue  ! 
Every  thing  overwhelms  me,  and  finks  me  into 
defpair."  "  Virtue,"  replied  I,  "  always  equal, 
conilant,  and  invariable,  is  not  the  portion  of 
mankind.  In  die  conflict  of  fo  many  paffions, 
by  which  we  are  agitated,  our  reafon  is  troubled 
and  obfcured  ;  but  there  are  Pharofes  by  which 
ve  can  rekindle  the  flame  j  I  meanf  letters, 
M  3 


j^g  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

"  Letters,  my  fon,  are  an  aftiilance  fent  to  us 
from  heaven.  They  are  rays  of  that  wifdom, 
which  governs  the  univerfe,  and  which  man, 
inspired  by  a  celeftial  art,  has  learned  to  eftab- 
lifh  upon  this  earth.  Like  the  rays  of  the  fun, 
they  enlighten,  they  comfort,  they  warm*:  it  is 
a  flame  altogether  divine.  Like  fire,  they  di 
rect  all  nature  to  our  ufe.  By  means  of  them, 
we  unite  around  us,  men  and  things,  times  and 
places.  By  them,  we  feel  ourfelves  recalled  to 
the  rules  of  human  life.  They  calm  the  paf- 
fions  ;  they  reprefs  vice  ;  they  roufe  virtue,  by 
the  facred  example  of  thofe  great  men,  whom 
they  celebrate,  and  whofe  honored  images  they 
habitually  prefent  to  us,  crowned  with  refpect. 
They  are  the  daughters  of  heaven,  who  defcend 
to  earth,  in  order  to  foothe  the  misfortunes  of 
the  human  race.  The  great  writers,  whom  they 
infpire,  have  always  appeared  in  times  the  mpft 
difficult  for  human  fociety  to  fabfift,  the  times 
ef  barbarifm  and  of  depravity.  My  dear  fen, 
letters  have  afforded  confolation  to  an  infinite 
number  of  men,  far  more  miferable  than  you 
are  ;  Xenophou,  baniilied  from  his  country,  af 
ter  having  brought  back  to  it  ten  thoufand 
Greeks  ;  Scipio  Africanus,  exhaufted  .with  die 
relentlefs  calumny  of  the  Roman  people  ;  Lu- 
cullus,  fickened  with  their  cabals ;  and  Cati- 
nat,  ftung  with  the  ingratitude  of  a  French 
Court.  The  ingenious  Greeks  afllgi/jJ  the 
Several  governmeuts  of  our  various  h^ 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  139 

powers  to-  the  fever  <;I  Mufes,  who  pr  elide  over 
letters  :  we  ought,  therefore,  to  refign  to  them 
the  government  of  our  pa£ions,  in  order  that 
they  maydued  and  curb  them.  They  ought, 
with  regard  to  rhe  faculties  of  the  foul,  to  per 
form  the  iani'.  functions  with  the  Hours,  which 
•-  I  ana  glided  '.hehorfes  of  the  fun. 

""  Apply  yci:rfe!f,  then,  my  ion,  to  the  Rudy 
of  books.  TLoie  wife  men.  who  have  writ-en 
before  us,  arc  Lra/velleiSj  who  have  preceded  us 
1  paths  of  calamity,  who  ftretch  out  the 
hand  toward  us,  and  incite  us  to  join  their  io- 
dety?  when  every  body  elfe  has  abandoned  us, 
A  good  book  is  a  good  friend.'' 

"  Ah  !"  cried  Paul,  "  I  hud  n  ;  occafion  to 
know  how  to  read,  when  Virginia  w#s  I1  :re  ; 
flie  had  fcudied  no  more  than  I  had  done,  but 
when  (he  looked  upon  me,  calling  me  her  friend, 
it  was  impoffible  for  me  to  know  what  forrow 
meant/' 

"  Doubi-kfs,"  faid   I  to  huru  ^  there  can  be 
.     nad  ib  agrees!-  " 

Lil.     There  is 


^jr,  her  countenance:  are 

•"ons   of  confidence^ 

enedby  her  joy  r  What 

,ed,    when    ihe   fmik-s'r 

l  ter  tears  I  Virgiiiia  will 

'  .fophy,  than  yon  poffefs  ; 


140  PAUL  AN»  VIRGINIA, 

flie  will  be  greatly  furprifed  at  not  finding 

tardcn  entirely  reftored,  ihe,  whole  thoughts  are 
xed  on  embellifhing  it,  in  fpite  cf  the  perfecu* 
lions  of  her  relation/  while  far  from  her  mother, 
and  from  you." 

The  idea  of  the  approaching  return  of  Vir 
ginia  renovated  the  courage  of  Paul,  and 
brought  him  back  to  his  rural  occupations.  Hap 
py  in  the  miciit  of  his  perturbation,  in  propefing 
to  his  exertion?,  an  end  congenial  to  his  pre» 
dominant  padion* 

One  morning,  at  day-break,  it  was  the  24th 
cf  December,  1752,  Paul,  on  fifing,  perceived 
a  white  flag  hung  out  on  Mount  Difccvery.— • 
This  flag  was  the  figr-al  that  a  veffel  was  defcri- 
ed  at  lea*  He  immediately  flew  to  the  city,  in 
order  to  learn  if  it  brought  atiy  intelligence  of* 
Virginia.  He  remained  there  till  the  return  of 
die  pilot  of  the  port,  who  according, to  cuftorn, 
had  gone  out  to  reconnoitre  her.  This  man  ofd 
not  come  back,  till  the  evening.  He  reported 
to  the  Governor,  that  the  veffel  which  they  had 
hailed  was  the  Saint  GeranJ,  of  about  feveu 
hundred  tons  burthen,  commanded  by  a  captain 
named  M.  Aubin  ;  that  flie  was  four  leagues 
diftant  at  rnoit,  and  that  Ihe  could  not  come  to 
her  moorings,  off  Port-Louis,  till  the  next  day, 
in  the  afternoon,  if  the  wind  was  fair.  It  was 
then  a  dead  calm.  The  pilot  then  delivered  to 
the  Governor  the  letters,  which  the  veifel  had 
from  France.  Among  others, 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA,  141 

was  one  m  Virginia's. hand-\vrilfng  £  >r  Madame 
da  la  Tour.,    Paul  fel /.«:•.!  it  immediately,  ancf, 

having  killed  it  \vith  traniportjhc  put;  it  in  las 
bofom,  and  flew  to  the  pi  ir ration,     j\t,  foon   ( 
he  could  perceive   tire  family,  from  afar, 
were  wailing  his  return  on  Rock- Farewell. 
raifed  the  letter  into  the  air.  Av;r]?out  t]:.e  v 
of  uttering  a  fy  11  able  :  immediately,  •} 
family  ajjem bled  round  Madame  de  la  Tour  tb 
hear  it  read. 

Virginia  informed  her  mother,  that  fhe  had 
experienced  veryharih  treatment  from  her  grand 
aunt,  who  had  attempted  to  force  her  into  mar 
riage,  had  afterwards, disinherited  her,  and  then 
turned  her  away,  at  a  time  which  would  not 
permit  her  to  arrive  at  the  lile  of  France,  till 
the  hurricane  feafon  :  'that 'fhe  had,  to  no  pur- 
pofe,  endeavoured  to  foften  her,  by  re^refeJltlng 
\vhat  Hie  owed  to  her  itidtner,  and  to  the  cor.- 
neftions  of  Her  early  life  ;  that  fne  had  beer. 
treated  by  her,  as  a  girl  \vhofe  head  was  turn 
ed  with  reading  romances  |  that3  at  prefent,  her 
only  wifh  was  once  more  to  fee  and  embrace  her 
dear  family,  and  that  ihe  would  have  gratified 
this  ardent  wifh  that  very  day,  if  the  captain 
would  have  allowed  her  to  embark  in  the  pilot- 
boat,  but  that  he  had  oppofed  her  departure, 
on  account  of  the  diftance  of  the  fhore,  and  oi 
a  heavy  fwell  atfea,in  the  ofnng,  notwithiland 
ing  the  ftillnefs  of  the  wind. 

S  .     .  -        ,    this   letter  read,  than  the  whole 


*4*  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

family,  transported  with  joy,  cried  out :  "  Vir< 
ginia  is  arrived.''  Matters  and  fervants  em. 
braced  each  other  by  turns.  Madame  de  la 
Tour  faid  to  Paul:  «  My  fon,  go  and  inform 
cur  neighbour  of  Virginia's  arrival.7*  Domin 
go  immediately  ^lighted  a  flambeau  of  round* 
wood,  and  then,  in  company  with  Paul,  dire&ed 
his  courfe  toward  my  habitation. 

It  might  be  about  ten  o'clock  at  night :  I  had 
jud  extinguifhed  my  lamp,  and  had  lain  down 
to  ileep,  when  I  perceived,  through  the  palifa- 
does  of  my  cottage,  a  light  in  the  woods.  Soon 
after,  I  heard  die  voice  of  Paul,  calling  me  by 
name.  I  immediately  arofe,  and  was  fcarcely 
dreiled,  when  Paul,  ahnoft  diftracled,  and 
breathlds,  claiped  me  round  the  neck,  faying  : 
"  Come,  come  along,  Virginia  is  arrived.  Let 
-ushaften  to  the  port,  the  veflel  will  anchor 
there  by  day-break/' 

We  immediately  bent  our  courfe  thither.  As 
we  were  croffing  the  woods  of  the  Long-Moun 
tain,  and  already  on  the  road  which  leads  frox^j 
.Pamplemouffes  to  the  port,  I  heard  the  found 
of  fome  one  walking  behind  us.  It  was  a  negro 
hurrying  on  with  the  utmoft  fpeed.  As  foon 
as  he  had  overtaken  us,  we  ailced  him  whence 
he  came,  and  whither  he  was  going  with  fuch 
expedition  ?  He  replied  :  «  T  come  from  that 
quarter  of  the  illand,  which  is  called  Geld- 
I)uft,  and  am  difpatchcd  to  inform  the  Gover 
nor,  that  a  veilcl  from  France  has  juit  call  an- 


*AUL  AN*  VIRGINIA,  143 

chor  under  Amber  Ifland.  She  is  firing  guns, 
in  token  of  diflreft,  for  the  fea  is  very  boifter- 
ous."  The  man,  having  thus  fpoken,  immedi 
ately  haftened  forwards. 

I  then  faid  to  Paul  :  "  Let  us  go  toward 
Gold-Duft,  to  meet  Virginia  ;  it  is  only  three 
.eagues  from  hence."  We,  accordingly,  direct- 
ed  our  fteps  toward  the  Northern  part  of  the 
"fland.  The  heat  was  Itiflmg  :  the  moon  had 
aft  arifen  ;  three  black  circles  furrounded  her. 
A  frightful  darknefs  overfpread  the  whole  face 
of  heaven.  By  the  frequent  fiaflies  of  lightning, 
we  difcovered  long  ftreamcrs  of  thick  clouds, 
gloomy,  and  lowering  at  no  great  height,  piled 
one  above  another,  toward  the  middle  of  the 
iland,  which  rufhed  from  the  fea  with  an  amaz 
ing  rapidity,  although,  on  land,  not  the  leail 
breath  of  wind  was  ftirring.  Rattening  on 
wards,  we  thought  we  heard  the  roaring  of 
thunder,  but,  on  liftening  more  attentively,,  we 
difcovered  it  to  be  the  report  of  cannon,  rever 
berated  by  the  echoes.  The  noife  of  the  dirhmt 
firing,  joined  to  the  tempefhtous  appearance  of 
the  heavens,  made  me  ihudder.  I  had  no  doubt 
but  it  was  a  fignal  of  diitrefs  from  fome  veffel 
on  the  point  of  foundering.  About  half  an 
lour  afterwards  the  firing  ceafed,  and  this  iuence 
ftruck  me  as  much  more  awful  than  the  mourn 
ful  founds  which  had  preceded  it, 

We  quickened   our  pace  without  faying  a 
ordj  or  daripg  to  communicate  our  uneafinefs 


144  PAUL  AND  VlRGu 

to  each  other.     Toward  midnight,  we  arri 

in  a  violent  heat,  en  the  -ea  ihcre,  at  the  quar 
ter  called  Gold-Dufr,    The  waves  daihed  them- 
ielves  againft  it  with  a  fearful  noife.     The  foam, 
cf  a  dazzling  whitenefs,  and  fparkl«ng  like  firej 
coveied  the  rocks  and  iliores.     Notwithstanding 
lac  darkneisj    we  could   diilinguifh,    by   thofe 
:;  !joric  lights,  the  canoes  of  the  fifhermen, 
:iy  had,  long  before j  drawn  a  great  way 
be  itrand. 

At  fome  diftance  from  thence,  at  the  entrance 
of  the  wood,  we  defcried  a  fire,  round  which 
feveral  of  the  planters  xvere  aficmbled.  We 
went  thither  to  reit  ourfelves,  and  to  wait  for 
the  return  of  clay.  Whilft  we  fat  by  the  Ere, 
one  of  the  planters  told  us,  that  the  preceding 
afternoon,  he  hud  f^en  a  veflel  at  fea,  borne 
tovvctrd  the  ifland  by  the  currents ;  that  the 
fliadcs  of  night  had  concealed  her  from  his 
view,  and  that  two  hours  after  fun-fet,  he  had 
heard  the  iiring  of  cannon,  as  a  fignal  calling 
f6r  afllllar.ce,  but  that  the  fea  ran  fo  high,  no 
one  would  fend  out  a  bpat  to  her  relief :  that  ibor 
after,  lie  could  perceive  their  lanterns  lighted 
up,  i;y.d,  in  that  cafe,  he  was  afraid,  the  veiTel 
having  come  fo  near  the  fhore,  might  have  pa£ 
fed  between  the  main  land  and  tRelittk:  I-c  of 
Amber,  mistaking  the  latter  for  Mire  Poir.t:, 
near  which  the  veilt-lj  arriving  at  IV-il-Louis 
arc  accu.  ;  that  if  it  were  fo,  \ 

hovrcvcr  he  could  net  abiblutely  afilrm,  Uie  vd* 


AND  VIRGINIA  *4j 

fel  mu ft  be  in  the  greate.ft  danger.  Another 
planter  then  fpo,';e,  and  told  us,  chat  he  had  lev- 
era!  time§  palled  through  the  channel,  which, 
feparates  the  lile  of  Amber  from  the  coaic ; 
that  he  had  founded  it,  and  found  that  the 
mooring  and  anchoring  ground  were  excellent  ; 
and  til  at  die  veilel  was  as  fafe  there  as  in  the 
fecure  harbour.  <c  1  would  ri£k  my  whole 
fortune  in  her,3'  added  he,  "  and  could  fleep  as 
foundly  as  if  I  were  on  dry  land."  A  third 
planter  aliened,  that  it  was  irnpoiTible  fer  a  vef- 
fel  of  that  fize  to  enter  the  channel,  as  even 
boats  could  with  diiSculty  navigate  it.  Ke 
fiid,  that  he  had  ieen  her  anchor  beyond  the 
of  Amber,  fo  that  if  the  breeze  ihould 
fpring  up  in  the,  morning,  ihe  would  have  it  in 
her  power,  cither  to  put  to  fea  again,  or  to  gain 
the  harbour.  Other  planters  delivered  various 
opinions. 

Whilft  they  aver ecHfputing  among  themfelves, 
as  is  very  cuucmary  wich  idle  Creoles,  Paul  and 
I  kept  a  profound  iilence.  V/e  remained  there 
till  peep  of  dawn,  bur,  then,  there  was  tco  little 
light  in  the  heavens,  to  admit  of  our  diilinguifli- 
ing  any  object  at  fea,  which,  befides,\vas  cover 
ed  wiih  a  thick  fog ;  we  could  only  defcry  to 
windward,  a  ctuky  cloud,  which  they  told  us, 
was  the  lile  of  Amber,  fi mated  at  a  quarter  of 
a  league's  durance  from  the  coaft.  We  per 
ceived  no  cbje^  by  this  gloomy  li^ht,  but  the 
point  of  land  where  we  were,  and  the  peaks  c£ 
N 


146  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

fome  of  .the  mountains  of  the  interior  of  the 
iiland,  appear  ing,  from  time  to  time,  in  the  midil 
of  the  clouds,  which  floated  around  them. 

About  feven  in  the  morning,  we  heard  the 
found  of  drums  in  the  woods  ;  it  was  the  Gov 
ernor,  M.  de  la  Bourdonaye,  who  came  on  horfe- 
back,  attended  by  a  detachment  of  foldiers,  arm 
ed  with  mufkets,  and  by  a  great  number  of 
planters  and  negroes.  He  drew  up  the  foldiers 
on  the  beach,  and  ordered  tfiem  to  fire  a  volley. 
Scarcely  had  they  done  fo,  when  we  perceived, 
on  the  fea,  a  flafli  of  light,  almoft  immediately 
iucceded  by  the  report  of  a  cannon.  We  con 
cluded  that  the  veflel  was  at  no  great  diflance 
from  us,  and  we  all  flew  to  that  quarter  \vhere  we 
had  feen  her  fignal.  We  then  dtfcernsd,  through 
the  mift,  the  hull  and  fail-yards  of  a  large  ve£ 
iel.  We  were  fo  clofe  to  her,  that,  notwithftan  J- 
ing  the  roaring  of  the  fea,  we  diftinctly  heard 
the  boatfwain's  whittle,  and  the  voices  of  failors, 
who  gave  three  cheers  of,  Long  live  the  King  ; 
for  this  is  the  exclamation  of  .Frenchmen,  whan 
in  extreme  danger,  as  well  as  amiclit  their  great- 
eft  rejoicings  ;  as  if  they  meant  to  call  their 
Prince  to  their  affiftance,  in  perilous  feafons,  or, 
as  if  they  intended,  even  then,  to  declare,  that 
they  were  ready  to  rneer  cle?.:h  fcr  his  fake. 

From  the  moment'  that  the  Saint  Gerand 
perceived  we  were  within  rea^h  of  givij.- 
ailiflance,  fhe  went  on  firing  a  gun  every  ihree 
minutes*     M.  de  la  Bourdonaye  ordered 


I>AUL  ANS  VIRGINIA;  147 


fires  to  be  kindled,  here  and  there,  along  the 
ftrand,  and  fent  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
neighbourhood,  in  queft  of  provifions,  planks, 
cables,  and  empty  calks.  A  multitude  foon  ar 
rived,  accompanied  by  their  negroes,  loaded 
with  provifions  and  cordage,  who  came  from 
the  plantations  of  Gold-Dull:,  the  quarter  of  the 
Marlh,  and  from  Pvampa-rt  River.  One  of  the 
oldefl  of  theie  planters  approached  the  Govern 
or,  and  thus  addreiled  him  :  "  Sir,  deep  founds 
have,  all  night  long,  been  heard  in  the  ^  moun 
tain.  In  the  woods,  the  leaves  are  violently- 
agitated,  though  there  is  not  a  breath  of  wind 
tin-ring.  The  fea-birds  are  flocking,  in  crowds, 
to  take  refuge  on  the  land  ;  furely,  all  thefe 
figns  announce  the  approach  of  a  hurricane." 
"  Well,  my  friend,"  replied  the  Governor,  "  we 
are  well  prepared  for  it,  and  furely,  the  vcflel 
is  fo  iikewife." 

In  truth,  the  whole  appearance  of  nature 
prefaced  an  approaching  ternpeft.  The  clouds 
which  were  diilinguifhable  in  the  zenith,  were, 
at  their  centre,  awfully  black,  and  their  ^  edges 
of  a  copper  color.  The  air  refounded  with  the 
fcreams  of  the  paiilencu,  the  frigate,  the  water- 
cutter,  and  a  multitude  of  other  fowls,  which, 
notwithstanding  the  gloom  of  the  atmofphere, 
flocked  -from  all  points  of  the  horizon,  to  feek 
a  fhelter  in  the  ifland. 

Toward  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  fearful 
nolics  were  heard  from  the  fea,  as  if  torrents  of 
N  2 


Z4*  PAUL  AN3  VIRGINIA. 

water,  mingled  with  t5ie  roaring  thunder,  were 
ru&ing  from  the  mcuntim  tops.  The  whole 
company  exclaimed:  "There's  thehumeane!" 
and,  at  the  fame  moment,  an  awful  whirlwind 
carried  off  the  fog,  which  overfpread  the  ICe 
of  Amber,  and  its  channel.  The  Saint  Gerar.d 
was  then  plainly  defcried,  her  deck  crowded  with 
people,  her  yards  and  round-tops  lowered,  her 
iiag  hoi lled>  four  cables  on  her  fore  caiue,  av;d 
one  to  keep  her  fad  a-ilern.  She  had  anchored 
between  the  Ifle  of  Amber  and  the  main  land, 
within  the  fhelvy  cnclofure,  which  furrounds 
the  Ifie  of  France,  and  which  flie  had  weather* 
ed  through  a  channel  that  no  vellei  had  evtr 
pa(Ted  before.  She  prefented  her  bows  to  the 
billows,  whichrciled  onfrom  the  IT  air*  ccean ;  and 
at  every  ftirge,  which  forced  its  v/ay  into  the  chan- 
nel,  her  prow  was  elevated  to  ftich  a  height, 
that  her  keel  was  perceptible  in  the  air  ;  but 
by  this  motion,  her  ftern,  plnngiBg  downv/ard, 
difappeared  from  view,  to  its  very  carved  ucik, 
as  if  it  had  been  entirely  fwailowed  up.  In 
this  fituation,  in  which  the  winds  and  the  waves 
were  driving  her  toward  the  fliore,  it  was  equal 
ly  impoffible  to  return  through  the  track  by 
which  ihe  had  entered,  or,  by  cutting  her  cables, 
to  run  a-ground  upon  the  fhore,  from  which 
Hie  was  feparatcd  by  a  deep  bottom,  fown  thick 
with  ihelving  rocks.  Every  biiK'/w  which  broke 
again  it  the  coafr,  rufhedor.,  roarir^  to  the  very 
bottom  of  the  bay,  and  toiled  the  pebbles  meie 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA* !  S49  I 

than  fifty  feet  up  the  fhore  :  then,  retiring  back 
wards,  difcovered  a  great  part  of  its  bed,  the 
Hones  of  which  were  daihed  backward  and 
forward,  with  a  rough  and  horrible  noiie.  The 
fea,  fwelled  by  the  winds,  increafed  every  mo 
ment,  and  the  whole  channel  between  this  iiland  •• 
and  the  Tfle  of  Amber,  appeared  to  be  an  in> 
menfe  iheet  of  white  foam,  hollowed  into  deep 
and  duiky  waves.  This  foam  collected  itfelf  at 
the  bottom  of  the  creeks,  to  the  height  of  more, 
than  fix  feet,  and  the  winds,  which  brufhed  a- 
lonz  its  furface,  carried  it  beyond  the  ileep  cliffs 
of  the  ihore,  m%e  than  half  a  league  into  the 
ifiand.  At  fight  of  thefe  innumerable  white 
flakes,  which  were  driven  in  a  horizontal  direc 
tion,  to  the  very  foot  of  the  mountains,  you 
would  have  thought  that  hills  of  fnow  were 
rulhing  from  the  lea.  The  horizon  prefented 
every  iympton  of  a  lengthened  tcmpeft :  the 
heavens  and  the  fea  feemed  to  be  confounded  in 
it  with  each  ^ther.  There  were  inceffantly  de 
tached  from  it  clouds  of  a  fearful  appearance, 
which  nev7  along  the  zenith,  with  the  velocity  of 
birds  ;  whilft  others  appeared  in  it  irnmoveable- 
like  enormous  roc^s.  -Not  a  fingle  fpot  of.azure 
was  perceptible  in  the  whole  firmament ;  a  pair 
and  olive-colcred  glare  was  all  that  illuminated 
the  objects  on, the  earth,  on  the  lea  and  in  the 
heavens, 

Bv  the  violent  Rraixung  of  the  vend,  what  we 
feared,  at  length  took  place,     The  cables  on  her 
-     3 


SAUL  ANS  VIRGINIA. 


bows  flapped  ;  and  as  fhe  then  rode  by  a  fin- 
gle  haller,  fiie  was  dallied  upon  the  recks, 
naif  a  cable's  length  from  the.  fhore.  One 
fcream,  of  grief  burit  from  every  breail*  Paul 
\vas  hailening  to  throw  himfelf  into  the  lea, 
when  I  feized  him  by  the  arm.  "  My  fen,"  faid 
I  to  him,  "  arc  you  determined  to  deftroy  your- 
felf?"  "Oh,  let  me  go  to  her  affiirance/'  cried 
he,  "  or  let  me  die  !  "  As  defpair  had  overpow 
ered  his  reafon,  Domingo  and  I,  in  order  to 
prevent  his  deftrudtion,  tied  round  his  middle 
a  long  cord,  one  of  the  extremi  tie  scf  which  we 
held  fail.  Paul  then  advanced  toward  the 
Saint  Gerund,  fome  times  fwiinmmg,  fomedmcs 
walking  on  the  {hallows.  Sometimes,  he  had 
hope  of  getting  on  board,  for  the  iea,  in 
thefe  irregular  movements,  left  the  veflel  nearly 
dry,  fo  that  you  might  alniod  walk  round  and 
round  her  :  but  preientiy,  returning  wi:li  reno 
vated  fury,  it  covered  her  with  enormous  arehts 
of  water,  which  carried  away  the  whole  fore 
part  of  her  bottom,  and  d.iihed  the  unhappy 
Paul  a  great  way  upon  the  lliore,  his  legs  bleed- 
ir,-.;-,his  cheilbruifed,  and  half  -drowned.  Scarce- 
i  •  i  s  yo  u  n  ^  m  an  re  c  c  v  i  1  '.  .  u.  '  e  o  f  his 

:,nc,j, 
.a  araor,    toward  ch      fl    p    v.  men 


on  panks,  en  her*.- 


coops;  on  tables,  and  on  caiks.     Then,  appear- 


FAUX,  AND  VIRGINIA.  *jj 

cd  an  objed  worthy  of  regret ;  a  young  lady 
ivas  feen  on  the  item-gallery  of  the  Saint  Gc- 
rand,  ftretching  cat  her  arms  toward  him,  who 
kvas  making  ib  many  fruidefs  efforts  to  join  her. 
fet  was  Virginia.  Shefoon  difcovered  her  lover  by 
pis  intrepidity.  At  fight  of  this  amiable  girl, 
espofed  to  perils  fo  dreadful,  we  were  over 
whelmed  with  forrow  and  defpair.  As  for  Vir 
ginia}  with  a  noble  and  dignified  air,  ihe  waved 
.ier  hand  to  us,  as  if  to  bid  us  an  eternal  fare 
well.  The  failors  had  all  thrown  themfeives 
aito  the  ocean.  One  alone  remained  oai  the 
Leek,  who  was  entirely  naked,  and  ftrong  as  a 
lercules.  He  approached  Virginia  refpecl- 
ully -5  we  law  him  throw  himfelr  at  her  knees, 

d  ever,,  endeavour  to  periuade  her  to  pull  off 
sr  clothes  ;  but  Hie,  repelling  him  with  dignity, 
urued  her  face  the  other  way.  The  air  re- 
bun  Jed  with  thele  xedoiibled  cries  of  the  fpec- 
:ators  :  u  Save  her,  oh,  fave  her :  do  not,  do 
x>t  quit  her!"  But,  at  the  fame  moment,  a 

cuntain  of  water,  of  an  enormous  fize,  en- 
ulphed  itftlf  between  the  lile  of  Amber  and 
lie  coail:,  and  advanced,  roaring,  toward  the 
refiel,  which  it  menaced  with  its  dufky  lidcs  and 
baming  fummits.  At  thjs  awful  Ipeclacle,  the 
Tailor  flung  himfelf  alone  into  theiea,  and  Vir 
ginia,  perceiving  death  inevitable,  placed  one 
land  on  her  clothes,  and  the  other  on  her 
learn  ;  then  raifmg  her  placid  eyes  toward  heav 
en,  fhe  feemed  an  angel,  going  to  take  fught 
toward  the  ^eleftial  regions. 


,5*  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

Oh,  day  of  horror  !  Alas !  all  v/as  fwallow- 
cd  up.  The  forge  dafhed  far  up  the  fhore,  a 
part  of  the  fpe&ators,  whom  an  emotion  of  hu 
manity  had  prompted  to  advance  toward  Vir 
ginia,  as  well  as  the  failor,  who  had  attempted  to 
preferve  her  by  fwimming.  This  man,  efcaped 
from  almoil  certain  death,  kneeled  down  upon 
the  ftrand,  faying  ;  "  Oh,  my  GOD,  thou  Juift 
preferved  my  life  ;  but  I  would,  have  facrificed 
it,  willingly,  to  lave  that  of  the  excellent  young 
>  Jady,  who  with  all  my  perfuailon,  would  not  be 
^prevailed  on  to  undrefs  herfelf,  as  I  did."  Do 
mingo  and  I  drew  out  from  the  waves,  the  un 
fortunate  Paul,  entirely  deprived  of  recollection, 
whilft  the  blood  gnihed  from  his  mouth  and  ears, 
The  Governor -put  him  under  the  care  of  fur- 
geons,  'while  we  'travel-fed  the  fca-fliore  to  fee 
whether  the  billows  had  not  borne  the  body  of 
Virginia  thither  ;  but  the  v/ind  having  fudden- 
ly  changed,  as  is  very  cuftomary  in  the  cafe  of 
hurricanes,  we  had  the  mortification  of  reflect 
ing,  that  we  fhould  net  have  it  in  our  power  to 
render  to  this  unfortunate  girl  even  the  rites  of 
fepulture.  We  haftened  from  the  fpot,  over- 
whelmed  with  forrow,  our  minds  entirely  en- 
groficd  with  the  lofs  of  only  one  perfon,  in  a 
fnipwreck,  \vhere  fo  many  had  periled ;  the 
greater  part  doubting,  from  an  end  fo  diiai>rous, 
kefav  man  of  fuch  exalted  vir 

tue  icnce    exiiled  at  ail ;  for 

^p^n  *-       -:readful,  and  fo  ui, 


PAUL  ANP  VIRGINIA. 


that  the  confidence,  even  of  the  wifsft,  is 
frequently  daggered. 

Meanwhile,  they  had  placed  Paul,  who  u  ;\y 
began  tQ  recover  the  ufe  of  his  lenles,  in  an  ad 
joining  houfe,  till  f  .1$  fituation  permitted  him  t& 
be  carried  to  his  own  home.  As  for  me,  1  was 
returning  with  Domingo,  in  order  to  prepare 
Virginia's  mother,  and  her  friend,  for  this  ca 
lamitous  event,  when,  on  our  arrival  at  the  en 
trance  cf  the  valley  of  the  river  of  the  Lata* 
niers;  fame  negroes  informed  us  that  the  fea  was 
driving  a  great  deal  of  the  wreck  of  the  veffel 
up  the  oppoiite  bay.  We  defcended  thither, 
and  one  of  the  firit  objects  which  we  deicried 
upon  the  fbore,  was  the  body  of  Virginia.  It 
was  half  covered  with  faiid,  and  in  the  very  at* 
titude  in  which  xve  had  feen  her  perifh.  There 
was  no  fenfible  alteration  in  her  features.  Her 
eyes  were  clofed,  but  ierenicy  ftil!  fat  upon  her 
forehead  ;  only,  the  pale  violet  of  death  blend 
ed  itielf  upon  her  chucks,  with  the  rofesof  '  mod- 
city  .  One  of  her  hands  lay  upon  her  clothes  ; 
the  other,  which  clurg  to  her  heart,  v/as  firmly 
clofed  and  itiiF.  I  di/cngaged  from  it  with  m^ich 
difficulty,  a  little  cafket  ;  but  how  v/as  I  aiton- 
edj  when  I  perceived  in  it,  the  portrait  which 
Paul  had  given  hesrs  and  which  (lie  had  promifed 
him  never  to  part  with  while  fhe  lived.  At  this 
!aft  token  of  the  ccr.ftancy,  and  the  love  of  this 
unhappy  girl,  I  wept  bitterly*  As  for  Domin- 
go>  beating  his  breaft,  he  pierced  the  air  with 
his  -mournful  cries*  We^  then>  carried  the  bexi/ 


t£4  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

to  a  fiflierman's  hut,  where  we  gave  it  in  charge 
to  fome  poor  Malabar  women,  who  waihed  it 
carefully. 

'  Whilil  they  were  performing  this  fad  office, 
we  afcended,  trembling,  toward  the  plantation. 
We  there  found  Madame  de  la  Tour  and  Mar 
garet  at  prayer,  in  expectation  of  news  concern- 
ing  the  veifel.     As  foon  as  the  former  perceiv 
ed  me,  ihe  exclaimed  :  "  Where  is  my  daugh 
ter  ?  my  beloved  Virginia  ?  my  child  ?  As  my 
filence  and  my  tears  but  too  well  informed  her 
of  the-' calamity  which  had  happened,  file  was 
fuddenly  feized  with   a  fuifocation,    and  ago 
nizing  fpafms ;  her  voice  could  be  diitinguilh- 
ed  only  by  fig'is  and  fobbing,      Margaret  ex 
claimed  :  "  \Vhere  is  my  fon  ?  I  do  not  fee  my 
fon  ;"  and  fainted  away.     We  haftened  to  her, 
and  having  brought  her  to  herfelf,  I  allured  her 
that  Paul  was  alive,  and  that  the  Governor  had 
taken  proper  care  of  him.     She  recovered  the 
ufe  of  her  fenfes,  only  to  devote  her  attention  to 
theafliitance  of  her  friend,   who,  from  time  to 
time,  fell  into  long  fainting  fits.     Madame  de  la 
Tour  pafled  the  night  in  thefe  cruel  paroxifms, 
and,    by  the   length  of    their   duration,  I  have 
judged  that  nothing  equals  the  forrow  of  a  mo 
ther.     When  Ihe  recovered  her  reafon,  fhe  fixed 
her  mournful  eyes  ftedfaftly  toward  heaven.    In 
vain  did  Margaret  and  I  prefs   her   hands   be 
tween  our's,  in  vain  did  we  addrefs  her  by  the 
moft  tender  appellations ;    to  all  thefe  teltimo- 
nies  of  «ur  ancient  affection,  fhe  appeared  to- 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  XJ5 

tally  infenfible,  and   nothing  but  deep   groans 
proceeded  from  her  oppreffed  boibm. 

The- next  morning,  they  brought  Paul,  flretch* 
ed  along  in  a  palanquin*  Reafon  had  refume'd 
its  empire,  but  his  voice  was  entirely  loft.  His 
interview  with  his  mother  and  Madame  de  la 
Tour,  which,  at  firft,  I  had  been  apprehenfive 
of,  produced  a  better  effect,  than  all  the  care 
which  I  had  hitherto  taken.  A  ray  of  comfort 
beamed  on  the  countenances  of  thefe  two  un* 
happy  mothers.  They  both  approached  him, 
clafpedliim  in  their  arms,  luffed  him  ;  and  thofe 
tears,  which  had  been,  till  then,  reftrained  through 
excefs  of  forrow,  now  began  to  flow.  Paul 
foon  mingled  his  with  their's.  Nature,  being 
thus  difburdened  in  thefe  three  unhappy  beings, 
a  languid  oppreffion  fucceeded  to  the  convul- 
fions  of  their  grief,  and  procured  for  them  a 
lethargic  repole,  which  bore,  in  truth,  a  ilrong 
refemblance  to  death. 

Meanwhile,  M.  de  la  Bourdonaye  fent  a  mef- 
fenger  to  me  privately,  informing  me?  that  the 
.body  of  Virginia  had,  by  his  order,  been  con 
veyed  to  the  city,  and  that  from  thence*  he 
meant  to  have  it  carried  to  the  church  of  Pam- 
plemouffes.  I  immediately  went  down  x-  Port* 
LcuLs,  where  I  found  the  inhabitants  ai  bmbled 
from  all  parts,  to  affifl  at  her  funeral,  as  if  the 
illand  had  loll:,  in  her,  the  moft  precious  treat* 
lire  which  it  contained.  In  the  port,  the  flaps 
had  their  fail-yards  laid  acrofs,  their  flags  half 
.hoified  up*  and  they  were  firing  minute  guns. 


l$6  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

The  grenadier  company  opened  the  funeral  pro- 
ceillon.  They  carried  their  arms  inverted.—* 
Their  drums,  covered  with  long  pieces  of  crape, 
emitted  only  founds  of  woe  :  grief  fat  ftrongly 
depicted  on  the  countenances  of  thole  warriors, 
who  had  a  thoufand  times  braved  death  in  the 
field,  with  undaunted  courage.  Bight  young 
ladies,  cf  the  molt  confiderabk  rank  in  the  ifiand, 
clothed  in  white,  and  holding  palm  houghs  in 
their  hands,  bore  the  body  of  their  virtuous  com 
panion,  ftrcwed  over  witfHIowers.  A  choir  of 
little  children  followed  it,  chanting  hymns:  then 
after  them,  the  officers  of  higher  rank,  -and  the 
principal  ^habitants  of  the  ifiand,  and,  lad  of 
all,  the  Governor  himfclf,  followed  by  a  crc'.vd 
of  the  common  people. 

Thus  fa'r  had  government  Snterpcfed,  in  or 
dering  thai;  feme  honors  might  be  rendered  to 
the  virtues  of  "V  irglaia.  But  when  the  body 
had  arrived  at  the  feet  of  this  mountain,  at  the? 
fight  of  thofe  very  huts,  the  happinsft  of  which 
fhe  had  fo  long  constituted,  ar»d  which  her  death 
had  £iled  with  forrow,  the  whole  funeral  ccr- 
empny  was  derail  p/'d  ;  thehyivns  and  chanting 
ceased  ;  ncthivg  v*;ts  now  to  be  heard  in  the 
plain,  hut  fighl  and  lobs.  Crov/ds  cf  yo-::;g 
girls,  ;-)'jlonv?:aj;  to  the  neighbouring  planta 
tions,  haiter.ed  to  foreaci  ever  tlio  ccliin  of  Vir 
ginia,  handher chiefs,  chapltts,  and  wreaths  cf 
flowers,  i:;vcl;ir.r:  h-er,  as  if  fte  had  been  a  faint. 
Mothers  prayed  Heaven  to  befcow  en  tlicra 
daughters  like  her  ;  the  young  n:en.  in:ilrc!k-s  as 


, 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  *S? 

conitant ;  the  poor,  z  friend  as  afrecYionate,  and 
the  {laves,  a  miitrefs  as  kind. 

When  they  had  arrived  at  the  place  deflinedl 
for  her  interment,  the  negreffes  of  Madagafcar, 
and  the  Cafres  of  Mofambique,  placed  bafeets 
of  fruit  around  her  body,  and  fufpended  pieces 
of  MufF  on  the  neighbouring  trees,  according  to 
the  cullorn  of  their  country.  The  Indians  of 
Bengal,  and  thofe  of  the  coaft  of  Malabar, 
brought  cages  of  birds,  which  they  fet  at  liberty 
over  her  corpfe  ;  to  fuch  a  degree  does  the  lofs 
of  a  beloved  object  intereft  all  nations,  and  fuch 
a  power  does  unfortunate  virtue  pofiefs,  feeing 
it  artra&s  and  unites  all  religions  around  its  tomb* 
It  was  neceiiary  to  place  a  guard  near  her 
gr;-,  re,  ;ri  order  to  keep  back  fome  of  the  daugh* 
?>:  s .-{  the  poor  inhabitants,  who  were  rufhing 
to  throw  thcmielves  into  it,  declaring,  that,  in 
this  v/orld,  their  forrow  would  admit  of  no  con- 
foladon,  and  that  nothing  now  remained  for 
them,  but  to  die  with  her,  who  had  been  their 
oaly  benefaclrds.  She  was  interred  near  the 
chr-rch  of  Pa:nr/icmouiFeR,  on  its  Weftern  fide, 
31  :•  foot  of  a  tuft  of  bamboos,  where,  in  go- 
fs  vv Ita  her  mother  and  Margaret,  ihe 
delighted  to  repofe,  featecl  by  the  fide  of  him, 

fae  then  ufed  to  call  brother. 

returning  from  the  funeral  ceremony,  M. 
..;nayc  afcended  this  mcuntaia,  fol- 
of  his   numcrotis  retinue.— » 

ndered  to  iMadame  de  la  Tour,  and  her 

all  the  aiTiftance  which  lay  in  his  power* 

9 


*58  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

He  exprefTed   himfelf  in"  few  words,  but  with 
great  indignation,  again  ft:  her  unnatural  relation: 

approaching  Paul,  he  laid  every  thing  which  he 
thought  could  have  a  tendency  to  confole  him. 
'.'  I  was  anxious  to  contribute  to  your  hr?pni~ 
nefs,  and  that  of  your  family,"  faid  he ;  ; '  i  [eav- 
en  is  the  witnefs  of  my  fmcerity.  My  irJ^ud, 
you  muft  go  to  France  ;  I  will  procure  you  em 
ployment  there.  During  your  abience,  I.  will 
take  as  much  eare  of  your  mother,  as  if  fne 
were  my  own."  At  the  fame  time,  he  held  out 
his  hand  to  him  :  but  Paul  drew  back  his,  and 
turned  his  head  af:de>  that  he  might  not  fee  him. 
,  As  for  myfelf,  I  remained  in  the  dwelling  of 
my  unfortunate  friends,  to  admmiiler  to  them, 
as  well  as  to  Paul,  all  the  affiftance  I  could.  At 
the  end  of  three  weeks,  the  latter  wras  able  to 
walk ;  but  mental  deprefiion  feemed  to  increafe, 
in  proportion  as  his  body  grew  itronger.  He 
was  infenfible  to  every  thing  ;  his  looks  were 
languid,  and  he  did  not  anfwer  a  fyllable  to  all 
the  queilions,  which  were  put  to  him.  Ma 
dame  de  la  Tour,  who  was  in  a  dying  condi 
tion;  frequently  faid  to  him  :  "  My  fon,  fo  long 
as  I  fee  you,  I  think  I  behold  my  dear  Vr 
ia.JJ  At  the  name  of  Virginia,  he  i 
and  baftened  from  her,  in  fpite  of  Ciic 
of  his  mother,  \vho  calledhim  back  to  her  friend. 
He  wandered  alone  to  the  garden,  and  feared 
himfelf  at  the  foot  of  Virginia's  cocoa-tret,  v  iui 
his  eyes  itedfaftly  fixed  on  her  fountain.  The 
Governor's  iurgeon,  v/ho  had  taken  the  greatcit 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  155. 

care  of  htm,  and  of  the  ladies,  told  us,  that  in 
order  to  remove  the  gloomy  melancholy,  which 

had  fettled  on  his  mind,  we  ought  to  allow  him 
u,  Jo  every  thing  that  he  pleaieci,  without  con- 
tradic"ting  him  in  any  refpecl ;  for  this  was  the 
only  means  of  vanquilhing  that  ulence,  which  he 
*o  obrtinately  preierved. 

I  reiolved  to  follow  his  advice.  As  foon  as 
Paul  felt  his  itrength,  in  fome  degree,  reftored, 
the  ilril  ufe,  which  he  made  of  it,  was  to  retire 
from  the  plantation.'  As  I  did  not  wiih  to  lofe 

.  of  him,  I  walked  behind,  and  defired  Do- 
ruti\vQ  to  bring  fome  provisions,  and  to  accom 
pany  us,  In  proportion  as  the  young  man  def- 
cencied  from  this  mountain,  his  joy  und  his 
Strength  feemed  to  revive.  He  at  firfi  bent  his 
eourie  toward  PamplcmoufTes,  and  when  he  had 
arrived  at  the  church,  in  the  bamboo-alley,  he 
wenc  directly  to  the  fpot,  where  he  faw  the  earth 
had  been  newly  dug  up  :  There  he  kneeled 
down,  and  railing  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  offered 
up  a  long  prayer.  This  action  appeared  to  me 
a  happy  prefage  of  returning  reaibn,  as  this 
mark  of  confidence  in  the  Supreme  Being,  was 
a  pr:cf  that  his  foul  began  to  refume  its  natural 

ions.  Domifrgo  and  I  fell  down  on  our 
knees  alter  his  exmnple4  and  prayed  with  him., 
At  length  he  aroie,  and  walked  to  the  .Northern 
p .•••-:  of  the  illancL  without  paying  much  attert* 

,o  us.     As  1  knew  that  he  v.-as  entirely  ig* 

at;,  not-  onlv  where  .the  body  of  Virginia 
v/.;  kpoilied;  but  alfo,  whether  or  not  it  had 

O    2 


J&»  PAUL  A.VD  VIRGINIA. 

been  fared  from  the  fea,  I  ailced  him,  why  he 
had  been  praying  to  GOD  at  the  fool  of  ths 
bamboos ;  lie  replied  :  "  We  have  bcun  'hers 
together  fc  6ften  !J> 

lie  continued  his  journey  to  the  entrince  cf 
the  roreft,  where  night  over-:o,;k  as.  The)-,  i 
perfuaded  him,  by  m/  e&uftpiet  t~  take  lorn- 
nourilhment ;  we  then  refofed  cur^lv^  lipoa 
"the  grafs,  at  the  foot  of  a  tree.  The  ijext  c^Y* 
1  was  in  exrcciation,  thai  he  v/ouid  direct 'h»i 
ileps  homewards  again.  In  truth,  he  fixed  Ivis 
eyes, for  feme  time,  from  the  plain,  on  the  church 
of  Pamplemouifes,  with  its  long  rows  of  bain- 
boos,  and  made  feme  movements  to  return  thi 
ther  ;  but  he  fuddenly  bnrkd  himielf  in  the  for- 
ell,  always  directing  his  courfc  toward  the  Norili. 
I  penetrated  his  intention3  and  in  vain  endeav 
ored  to  diifuade  him  from  it.  We  arrived,  a- 
bout  mid-day,  at  the  quarter  cf  Gold-Dull.  Ke 
haftily  defcended  to  the  fea-fiiort,  exactly  cppc- 
file  to  the  place  where  the  Saint  Gerand  had 
periihed.  At  fight  of  the  liie  of  Anibc,  1 
its  channel,  ther.  as  i'mooth  as  a  mirror,  he  ex 
claimed  :  u  Virginia  !  oh,  my  be.ovcc3  Vir 
ia  !"  and  then  feel  down  in  a  fwnon.  Do;-, 
and  I  carried  him  to  iho  inier-or  cf  the  Irreir, 
where  we  brought  him  to  himielf,  v.-iih  much 
difficulty.  When  he  had  recovered  hi?  i'erfcs,  he 
was  preparh'?  to  return  to  the  fer.-fh-::re  ;  but, 

,          .  r      *  i->,,.  .  .  -r 

having  entreited  nim  r.c-t  to  renew  ms  own  gn« 
and  ours,  by  fuch  cruel  rccollcaioris,  he  took  an 
other  road.  In  fhort,  for  eight  days  together,  he 


PAUt  AND  VIRGINIA.  i6t 

rambled  to  all  thofe  places  which  he  was  accuf> 
tonied  to  frequent,  with  the  companion  of  his 
infancy.  He  wandered  along  the  path,  through  ' 
which '(he  had  gone,  to  afk  pardon  for  the  flave 
of  the  Black  River  :  he  then  viiked  the  borders 
of  die  river  of  the  Three  Paps,  where  fne  had 
iat;  dawn,  when  unable  to  walk  any  farther,  and 
that  part  of  the  wood,  in  which  Hie  had  been 
loft.  Every  place  that  recalled  to  his  mind, 
the  inquietudes,  the  fports,  the- repafts,  and  the 
beneficence  of  his  much-loved  Virginia  ;  the 
river  of  the  Long-Mountain,  my  little  habita 
tion,  the  neighbouring  eafcade,  the  papaya  which 
flic  had  planted,  the, molly  ground  where  ihe 
delighted  to  ran,  and  the  crofs  paths  of  the  for- 
ell  where  (he  loved  to  fmg,  each,  by  turns,  cau£- 
ec!  his  tears  to  flow  ;  the  very  echoes  which 
B;uJ;  fo  often  repeated  the  founds  of  their  mutu- 
:il  joy,  now  refounded  with  nothing  but  thefe 
mounifui  cries  :  "  Virginia  !  oh,  my  beloved 
Virginia  ! " 

In  this  wild  and  wandering  way  of  life,  his 

rvcs  £i\?w  hollow,  his  color  faded,  and  his  health? 

gradually,  but  perceptibly,    declined.      Being 

Ly  perihadcd  that  the  fentiment  of  our  mif- 

:       mes  is  "odoubled  by  the  remembrance  of 

".vhich  we  once  enjoyed,  and  that 
.  :       ...7  gives  an  edge  to  the  paffions,  I  re- 

ove  my  unfortunate  friend  from 
ices  v    ,:.:.h  excited  tlie  recollection  of  his 

'ir/ey  him  to  ibrne  part  of  the  ifl- 
iiv  there  v;ere  obj^s  to  diffipate  bis 

03 


jr6*  TAUL  AMD  VIRGINIA. 

melancholy..  For  this  purpofe,  I  -conducted 
him  to  the  inhabited  heights  of  the  quarter  of 
Williams,  where  be  had  never  been  before.  . .  - 
grlculture  and  commerce  then  fprecui  much  bin- 
tic  and  variety  ever  this  iiland.  There  were 
many  companies  of  carpenters,  who  fquared  the 
trees  into  logs,  and  others  who  were  iawi-e  :hcm. 
into  planks  :  carriages  came  and  went  along 
the  roads  ;  large  flocks  of  oxen  and  horils  led 
la  the  extenfive  pailu-res,  and  the  fields  were  fill 
ed  with  habitations.  The  elevation  of  the  foil* 
in  feveral  places,  admitted  of  the  cultivation  of 
many  kinds  of  European  vegetables.  You  might 
fee,  here  and  there,  harveils  of  corn  in  the  plain, 
beds  of  ftrawberries  in  the  openings  of  the  woods, 
and  hedges  of  rofe-trces  along  the  highway. — 
The  coomefs  of  the  air,  by  giving  tenfion  to  the 
nerves,  was  even  favorable  to  the  health  of  the 
whites.  From  thefe  heights,  fituated  in  the 
middle  of  the  iiland,  a:,d  furrounded  with  thick 
woods,  you  can  difcover  neither  the  fea,nor  Port- 
Louis,  nor  the  church  cf  PamplemcufTeF,  nor 
any  thing  which  could  recall  to  Paul's  mind  the 
remembrance  of  Virginia.  The  very  moun 
tains,  which  prcfent  dilFerent  branches  on  the 
fide  of  Port-Louis,  offer  nothing  to  viev/  on  the 
fide  of  Williams-Plain,  but  a  long  promontory, 
in  a  ftraight  and  perpendicular  line,  out  of  which 
many  loity  pyramids  of  rocks  elevate  themfevts, 
and  collect  the  clouds  around  their  peaks. 
It  was  to  thefe  plains,  accordingly,  that  I 
Paul-  I  kept  him  centirur.tlly  in 


FAUL-  AND  VIRGINIA,  s£$ 

a£icn,  walking  with  him,  in  fun-ihine,  and  in 
rain,  by  day  and  by  night,  leading  him  into  the 
woods,  and  over  the  freih  ploughed  ground, 
and  the  fields,  iix  order  to  amufe  his  mind  by  the 
fatigue  of  his  body  ;  and  to-  deceive  his  reflec 
tions  by  ignorance  of  the  place  where  we  wereft 
and  of  the  road  which  wt  had  left.  But  the 
mind  of  a  lover  finds,  every  where,  traces  o* 
the  beloved  obje<5t  The  night  and  the  day,  the 
calm  of  fclitude  and  the  noife  of  habitation* 
ray,  time  itfelf,  which  eraies  fo  many  recolleo 
tions,  brought  no  relief  to  his  mind,  Like  the 
Tieedle,  touched  by  the  magnet,  which  is  to  no 
parpofe  agitated,  for, as  ibon  as  it  recovers  a 
itate  of  re (t,  it  points  to  the  Pole  which  attracts 
it :  ib  when  I  a,ikcd  Paul,  as  we  wandered  a- 
bou>:  in  Williams-Plain,,"  Whither  (liall  we  go 
now  ?*'  he  turned  toward  the  North,  and  faid  :. 
44Thefe  are  our  mountains,  let  us  return  thither.'* 
ivarly  perceived,  that  all  the  methods,  by 
h  I  had  endeavoured  to  divert  his  mind, 
v/erc  ineffectual,  and  that  the  only  refource  now- 
left,  was  to  attack  the  paiTion  m  klclf,  by  em- 
plcying,  to  this  purpofe,  the  whole  lirengdi  of 
rny  feeble  rcafoa.  I,  accordingly,  replied  : 
u  '/es,  thefe  arc  the  mountains,  where  your  be-, 
loved  Virginia  once  lived,  and  there  is  the  porx 
trali  v/hich  you  gave  her,  and  which,  in  death, 
ilie  j>re(Ted  to  her  heart,  the  Lift  emotions  of 
which  were  devoted  tO|theje."  I  then  preientc^: 
to  Paul  tlie  little  portrait  which  he  had  given 
Viretniit,  on  the  bi.i.n.k:;  of  {.he  ibautam  of  the- 


1^4  PAUL  ANt>  VIRGINIA 

cocoa-trees.  At  fight  of  this,  a  gloomy  joy 
overfpread  his  countenance.  He  eagerly  feiz- 
ed  the  portrait  with  his  feeble  hands,  and  preiT- 
ed  it  to  his  lips.  Immediately,  his  breaft  be 
came  oppreffed,  and  to  his  blood-fliot  eyes  the 
tears  ftarted,  but  were  unable  to  flow. 

I  laid  to  him  :  u  My  fon,  attend  to  the  words 
of  one  who  is  your  friend,  who  was  fo  to  Vir 
ginia,  and  who,  in  the  ardor  of  your  expecta 
tions,  has  frequently  endeavoured  to  fortify 
your  reafon  againil  the  unforefeen  calamities  of 
human  life.  What  is  it  you  deplore  with  fo 
much  bitternefs  of  foul  ?  Is  it  the  misfortune 
which  has  befallen  yourfelf  ?  Is  it  that  which 
has  befallen  Virginia  ?" 

"  The  misfortune  which  has  befallen  ycur- 
fslf  ?  Yes,  I  grant  you  it  has  been  very  fevere. 
You  have  loJi  the  moft  amiable  of  young  wo* 
men,  vvh  l.ave  made  the  moil  virtuous 

of  wives.  She  Lad  facrificed  her  own  jnterefts 
to  your's,  and  preferred  you  to  fortune,  as  the 
only  recompenfe  worthy  of  her  virtue.  But 
how  do  you  know,  whether  the  object,  from 
whom  you  expected  happinefs  fo  pure,  miglf 
i;ot  have  proved  to  you  the  fource  of  forrcws 
innumerable  ?  She  was  dowerlefs,  and  dif in 
herited.  You  would  have  had  nothing,  in  fu 
ture,  to  iliare  with  her,  but  what  the  labor  of 
your  hands  produced.  Rendered  more  deli 
cate  by  her  education,  and  more  courageous  by 
her  very  misfortunes,  you  would  hav 
daily  fluking  uader  the  v.'eight  of  the  fati| 


PAUL  Atf»  VIRGINIA, 


which  flie  exerted  herfelf  to  divide  with  you, 
In  the  event  of  bringing  you  children,  her  trou 
bles  and  your  own  would  have  been  greatly  in- 
creaicd  by  the  difficulty  of  fupporting  alone, 
with  you,  your  aged  parents,  and  a  growing 
family. 

"  You  may  tell  me,  the  Governor  would 
have  afilfted  us  :  but  how  do  you  know,  wheth 
er,  in  a  colony  which  fo  often  changes  its  ru 
lers,  you  would  have  always  found  fuch  men  as 
M.  de  la  Bourdonaye  ?  Whether  fome  Govern 
or  might  not  have  been  fent  hither,  unpolilhed 
and  unprincipled  ?  Or,  whether  your  wife,  hi 
order  to  obtain  fome  miferable  pittance,  would 
not  have  been  obliged  to  cringe  to  fuch  a  man  ? 
Either  Ihe  would  have  become  frail,  and  you 
would  have  been  an  objeft  of  pity,  or  {he  would 
have  maintained  her  honor,  and  rnuft  have  re* 
mained  under  the  preffure  of  poverty  :  happy, 
if,  on  account  of  her  beauty  and  virtue,  you 
had  not  been  pcrfecuted  by'thofe  very  perfon* 
from  whom  you  folicited  protection 

"  You  may  lay,  I  might  have  enjoyed  hap- 
i,iricfs  independent  cf  fortune,  by  prote^ing  the 
beloved  objedt,  who  was  attached  to  me^in  pro- 
portion  to  her  very  weakness  ;  by  eoniolmg  her 
\\7th  my  o\vn  inquietudes,  by  making  her  rejoice 
cfVen  in  my  dejeaian,  and  thus  caufmg  our  love 
toincreaie  by  our  mutual  forrows.  l^oubtlets, 
vii-ue  and  love  delieht  in  thefc  bitter  pieaiurcs, 
But  ihe  is  now  no  more  ;  there  (till  remains  to. 
y^u,  however,  what,  next  to  yourlclf;  &P 


X66  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

amofl,  namely,  htf  own  mother  and  your'sj 
whom,  by  your  inconfolable  affliction,  you  are 
bringing  down  to  the  grave.  Make  it  your  hap- 
pincfs  to  fuecour  them,  as  it  was  her's.  My 
fon,  beneficence  is  the  happinefs  of  virtue  ;  there 
is  none  greater,  or  more  certain,  on  the  earth. 
Projects  of  pleafures,  of  repofe,  of  enjoy  merits, 
of  abundance,  and  of  glory,  are  not  made  for 
feeble  man,  who  is  only  a  traveller,  and  a  paf- 
fenger,  through  this  world.  Behold,  how  a 
fmgle  ftep  toward  fortune  has  precipitated  us 
from  one  abyfs  into  another  !  You  oppoied  it,  it 
is  true ;  but  who  of  us  did  not  believe,  that 
the  voyage  of  Virginia  would  terminate  in  her 
mvn  happinefs,  and  in  your's.  The  invitations 
of  a  rich  and  old  relation  ;  the  advice  of  a  fen* 
fible  Governor  ;  the  approbation  of  a  whole 
colony  ;.  the  exhortations  and  the  authority  of 
an  ecc-lefiaftic,  have  all  concurred  in  deciding 
the  fate  of  Virginia,  Thus,  we  rufli  on  to  our 
own  deftrudlion,  deceived  by  the  very  prudence 
of  thofe  who  govern  us.  It  would,  doubtlefs, 
have  been  better  not  to  believe  them,  nor  to 
trait  to  the  opinions  and  expectations  of  a  de-* 
ceitful  world.  But,  after  all,  of  ib  many  men* 
whom  we  fee  thus  bu'fily  employed  in  thefe 
plains  ;  of  fo  many  others,  who  go  in  qr,eft  of 
fortune  to  the  Indies,  or  who,  without  leaving 
their  own  homes,  enjoy  at  their  eafe,  in  Europe, 
the  fruit  of  the  labors  of  the  people  here*  there 
is  not  fo  much  as  one,  who  is  not  deltined  to 
lofe,  fome  day,  that  which  he  holds  moil  dear  i 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  16; 

greatnefs,  fortune,  wife,  children,  friends.  The 
jnoft  of  them  have  fuperadded  to  their  lofs,  the 
reflection  of  their  own  imprudence.  But  as  for 
you,  when  you  retire  within  ycurfelf,  you  find 
nothing  to  reproach  yourklf  with.  You  have 
maintained  unfhaken  fidelity  ;  in  the  flower  of 
youth,  you  have  poflefffcd  the  prudence  of  a 
iiige,  in  not  departing  from  the  fentiment  of 
nature.  Your  views,  alone,  were  perfectly  le 
gitimate,  becaufe  they  were  pure,  ilmple,  and 
cti/Intcrefted,  and  becaufc  you  had  lacred  rights- 
over  Virginia,  which  no  fortune  could  compen 
sate.  You  have  loft  her,  and  it  is  neither  your 
I:r. prudence,  nor  your  avarice,  nor  your  falfe 
IT},  which  occafioned  that  lofs,  but  Gor> 
hirnfelf,  who  has  employed  the  paflions  of  anoth 
er,  to  deprive  you  of  the  object  of  your  love  ; 
GOD.  from  whom  you  receive  every  thing,  who 
fees  what  is  proper  for  you,  and  whofe  wifdom 
has  not  left  you  auy  place  for  that  repentance 
and  dcfpair,  which  ever  follow  in  the  train  of 
thoie  evils,  that  we  have  brought  upon  ourfelves* 
<c  This  is  what  you  can  fay  to  yourfelf,  under 
the  pi  cflure  of  your  afHiction  :  I  have  not  mer 
ited  it.  Is  it,  then,  the  misfortunes  of  Virgin 
ia,  her  end,  her  prefent  condition,  that  you  de 
plore  ?  She  hasfubniitted  to  the  dedfion  referr 
ed  {or  birth,  for  beauty,  and  even  for  empires 
themfeives,  The  life  of  man,  with  all  its  pro- 
j-j'i'ts,  rears  itielf  like  a  tower,  to  which  death 
applies  the  fimlhing  flroke.  The  moment  ilie 
was  bcrn,  ihe  was  condcmued  to  die*  Happy f 


J6S  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

in  having  reiigned  her  life  before  her  mother, 
before  yeur's,  and  before  yourfelf ;  that  is,  in  not 
having  fuftered  many  deaths  before  the  final  one. 
"  Death, my  fon,  is  a  bleding  to  all  mankind.  It 
is  the  evening  of  that  reillefs  day,  which  we  call 
life.       It  is  in  the  fleep  of  death,  that  the  dif- 
cafes,  the  griefs,  the  vexations,  and  the  fears, 
which  incefTantly  agitate  unhappy  mortals,  re- 
pofe  for  even    Examine  thofe  men,  who  appear 
the  moft  happy,  and  you  will  find  that  they  have 
purchafed  their  pretended  enjoyments  very  dear 
ly  ;  public  refpe&ability,  by  domeftic  diflrefles ; 
fortune  by  the  lofs  of  health  ;  the  rare  pleaiiire 
of  being  beloved,  by  continual  facrifices  ;  and, 
bften,  at  the  clofe  of  a  life  devoted  to  the  interefls 
of  another,  they  foe  nothing  around  them  but 
falfe    friends,    and  ungrateful  relations.     But 
Virginia  was  happy  to  the  laft  moment  of  her  7s. 
5>he  was  fo,  whilit  among  us,  by  thofe  bleffings 
which  nature  beftows  ;  at  a  diftance  from  us,  by 
thofe  of  virtue  :    even  in  that  dreadful  moment 
•when  we  faw  her  perifh,  fhe  was  ftill  happy  ;  for, 
whether  fhe  caft  her  eyes  on  a  colony,  in  which 
i'  c  was  going  to  caufe  univerfal  defolation,  or 
upon  you,  who  rufhed,  with  iuch  intrepidity,  to 
:dun,ance,  fhe    clearly  perceived  how  dear 
i&e  was  to  us  all.     She  was  prepared  to  meet 
.  it  are,  by  reflecting  on  the  innocence  of  her 
p«ift  life,    and   fhe  then  received    the   reward, 
which    Heaven-  referves  far  virtue,  n  courage 
fMpeylor..  to  daner*      She  cuccuntcred  death 
mth  a.  ftrcne 


PAUL   AND  VIRGINIA.  169 

"My  fon,  the  Almighty  has  decreed,  to 
virtue,  the  power  offupporting  all  the  events 
of  human  life,  in  order  to  let  us  fee  that  it 
alone  can  make  the  proper  uie  of  them,  and 
find  in  them  felicity  and  glory.  When  he  re- 
ferves  for  it  an  illuftrious  reputation,  he  ele 
vates  it  on  a  great  theatre,  and  fets  it  a  con 
flicting  with  death  ;  then,  its  courage  ferves  as 
an  example,  and  the  remembrance  of  its  mis 
fortunes  receives  a  tribute  of  tears  from  pof- 
tcrity,  for  ever.  This  is  the  immortal  monu 
ment  referved  for  it  upon  a  globe  where  eve 
ry  thing  paifes  away,  and  where  even  the  mem* 
mory  of  the  generality  of  of  kings  is  fpeedily 
buried  in  eveiiailing  oblivion. 

"  But  Viginia  exiils  ftili.  Obferve,  my  fon, 
Low  every  thing  on  the  earth  changes,  and 
that  nothing  is  loft  :  no  human  fkill  can  an 
nihilate  the  fmalleil  particle  of  matter  ;  and 
could  that  %vhich  is  rational,  fenfible,  fufcept- 
ible  of  love,  virtuous,  religious,  have  periih- 
-ed,  when  the  elements,  with  which  it  was  in- 
voided,  are  not  liable  to  deftrudticn  :  Ah !  if 
Virginia  enjoyed  happirsefs  once  in  our  foci- 
ety,  how  much  more  does  fae  enjoy  now! 
Ther£  is  a  GOD,  my  fon  ;  all  nature  announ 
ces  it ;  there  is  no  occaiion  to  prove  it  to  you. 
Nothing  but  the  wickednefs  of  men  could 
make  them  deny  a  juitice,  which  they  con 
template  with  terror.  A  fentiment  of  him 
is  in  your  heart,  in  like  manner  as  his  works 
are  before  ycur  eyes,  Ca,a  you  bellevej  then, 


17^  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

that  he  will  leave  Virginia  without  recom- 
penfe  >  Can  you  believe,  that  the  fame  power, 
which  Clothed  a  foul  fo   noble,  in  a  form  fo 
beautiful,  in  which  fuch  divine  {kill  was  clear 
ly  perceptible,  was  not  able  to  have  faved  her 
from  the  waves?  that  he,  who  has  arranged 
the  aaual  happinefs  of  man,  by  laws  of  which 
you  are  entirely  ignorant,  could  not  prepare 
another  for  Virginia,  bylaws  equally  unknown 
to  you  ?  Before  we   were  created,  'if  we  had 
poifeifed  the  faculty   of  thinking,  could  we 
have  formed  any  idea  of  our  future  being  ? 
And  now  that  we  are  in  this  dark  and  fugi 
tive  exiftence,   can  we  forefee  what  is  beyond 
death,  by  which  we  muft  make  our  traniition 
from  it  ?    Has  the   Almighty  occafion,  like 
man,  for  this  little  globe  of  earth,  to  ferve  as 
the  theatre  of  his  wifdom  and  goodnefs,  and 
is     he    capable  of  propagating   human  life 
only  in  the  plains  of  death  ?  There  is  not  a 
fingle  drop  of  water  in  the  ocean,  but  what 'is 
illed  with  living  creatures,  which  have  all 
a  reference  to  us  ;  and  docs  nothing  exift  for 
us,  among  ail  thofe;  flars,  which  revolve  over 
our  heads !   What  !   is  there  no  Supreme  In 
telligence  and  Divine  Goodnefs,  in  any  fpot 
but  preciiely  that  where  we  are  ;  and  in  thofe 
radiant  and  innumerable  globes,  in  thofe  vaft 
plains  of   light  which  fanrouiid  them,    and 
which  are  never  obfcurcd  by  darknefs  or  tern- 
p-efl,  do  you  believe;  there  is  nothing  but  emp 
ty  jPace*  and  an  eternal  non^exiftence  1     If 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  171 

v/e,  who  could  give  nothing  to  ourfelves,  durft 
fet  bounds  to  that  power,  from  which  we  have 
received  ever/  thing)  we  might  believe  our 
felves  to  be  flationed  here  Upon  the  limits  of 
his  empire,  where  life  is  ever  ftruggling  with 
death,  and  innocence  with  tyranny. 

"  Without  doubt,  there  is  fome  where  a 
place  in  which  virtue  receives  its  reward. 
Virginia  now  is  happy.  Ah  !  if  from  the 
abode  of  angels,  Hie  could  communicate  to 
yquJKer  thoughts,  fhe  would  fay,  as  (he  did 
in  her  lafl  farewell  :  Oh,  Paul,  life  is  only  a 
ftate  of  probation.  I  have  been  found  faith 
ful  to  the  laws  of  nature,  of  love,  and  of  vir 
tue.  I  crofTed  the  feas  in  obedience  to  my 
relations  ;  I  renounced  riches  to  preferve  my 
fidelity  ;  and  I  have  preferred  death  to  the  vio 
lation  of  modefty.  Heaven  has  decreed,  that 
the  career  of  my  earthly  exiftencc  has  been 
fufficiently  filled  up.  I  have,  for  ever,  made 
my  efcape  from  poverty,  from  calumny,  from 
tempefts,  and  from  the  painful  fpeclacle  of 
the  woes  of  others.  None  of  thofe  ills,  which 
terrify  mankind,  can  ever,  in  future,  affect  me ; 
and  yet  you  ilill  pity  me  !  I  am  pure,  and 
unfufceptible  of  change,  as  a  particle  of  light  ; 
and  you  wifli  to  recall  me  to  the  gloomy 
night  of  life !  Oh,  Paul !  Oh,  my  friend  ! 
Call  to  mind  thofe  days  of  happinefs,  when  in 
the  morning,  we  enjoyed  the  beauty  of  the 
heavens,  riling  with  the  fun,  on  the  peaks  of 
thefe  rocks,  and  diffufing  itfelf,  with  its  radi* 

P   2 


*7*  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

ations,  over  the  bofom  'of  our  forefls.  We 
experienced  a  felicity,  the  caufe  of  \vhich  we 
were  unable  to  comprehend.  In  our  innocent 
deiires,  we  wiihed  to  be  all  eye,  in  order  to  en 
joy  the  rich  colors  of  Aurora  ;  all  fmell,  to 
inhale  the  perfume  of  our  flowers  ;  all  ear,  to 
liften  to  the  warbling  of  our  birds ;  all  grat 
itude  to  acknowledge  thefe  bleflnigs.  Now, 
at  the  fource  of  beauty,  whence  flows  all  that 
is  delightful  on  the  earth,  my  foul  immedi 
ately  taftes,  hears,  touches,  what  it  could  then 
perceive  only  through  feeble  organs.  Ah  ! 
what  language  is  capable  of  defcribing  thefe 
regions  of  an  eternal  morning,  which  I  in 
habit  for  ever.  Every  thing  that  Omnipo 
tence  and  celeftial  Goodnefs  could  create,  in 
order  to  adminifter  confolation  to  an  unfortu 
nate  being  ;  all  the  harmony,  which  the  friend- 
(hip  of  an  infinite  number  of  beings,  partaking 
of  the  fame  felicity,  mingles  in  our  common 
tranfports,  I  now  experience  without  alloy. 
Support  thyfelf,  then,  in  thy  ftate  of  proba 
tion,  that  thou  mayeft  increafe  the  happinefs 
of  thy  Virginia,  by  a  love,  which  knows  no 
bounds,  and  by  a  marriage,  the  torches  of 
which  can  never  be  extinguifhed.  There  I 
will  calm  thy  forrows  ;  there,  I  will  wipe  a- 
way  thy  tears.  Oh,  my  friend  !  my  young 
huijband  !  elevate  thy  foul  toward  infinity,  in 
order  to  fupport  the  miferies  of  a  moment/' 
My  own  emotion  entirely  ftifled  my  voice* 
As  for  Paul,  regarding  me  ftedfaftly,  }v. 


PAUL   AND  Vl&GlNIA, 

t:j aimed :  "  She  is  no  more  !  fhe  is  no  more  !" 
A  long,  languid  oppreflion  fucceeded  thefe 
mournful  words  ;  then,  returning  to  himfelf, 
he  faid  :  "  Since  death  Is  a  bleffing,  and  Vir 
ginia  is  happy,  I  will  die  alfo,  that  I  may  si- 
gain  be  united  to  her."  Thus  the  confola- 
tion  which  I  endeavoured  to  adminiiter,  only 
ferved  to  aggravate  his  defpair.  I  was  like  a 
perfon,  who  wiflies  to  fave  his  friend,  wheil 
finking  to  the  bottom  cf  a  river,  without  his 
making  any  effort  to  fwifn.  Sorrow  had  en 
tirely  overwhelmed  him.  Alas  !  the  misfor 
tunes  of  our  early  age  prepare  man  for  entering 
into  life,  and  Paul  had  never  experienced  them. 

I  conducted  him  back  to  his  habitation, 
and  I  there  found  his  mother,  and  Madame 
de  la  Tour,  in  a  languid  ftate,  which  had 
greatly  incrcafed  fmce  I  left  them.  Margaret 
was  the  moil  broken  down.  Lively  characters, 
over  whom  flight  troubles  flide  eafily  axvay, 
are  die  lead  able  to  withftand  heavy  calamities. 

She  /aid  to  me  :  "  Oh*  my  kind  neighbour  • 

I  dreamt  to-night  that  I  faw  Virginia,  cloth- 

i  white,  in  the  midft  of  bowers  and  de- 

. -us  gardens.  She  faid  to  me  ;  I  enjoy  a 
felicity  greatly  to  be  envied.  Then  fhe  ap 
proached  Paul,  with  a  joyful  air,  and  carried 
iiim  away  with  her.  As  I  was  endeavouring 
to  retain  my  fon,  I  felt  as  if  I  was  quitting 
the  earth  myfelf  and  that  I  followed  him  with 
a  pleafure  inexpreffible.  Upon  that  I  widied 
to  bid  farewell  to  my  friend;  but  perceived  her 


174  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

coining  after  us,  accompanied  by  Mary  and 
Domingo.  But  what  is.ftill  more  fmgular, 
Madame  de  la  Tour  has  had,  this  very  night, 
a  dream,  attended  with  exactly  fimilar  cy> 
cumilances." 

I  replied  :  "  My  friead,  I  believe  that  no 
thing  happens  in  the  world,  without  the  per- 
million  of  GOD.  Dreams  ibmetimes  announce 
truth." 

Madame  de  la  Tour  related  to  me  a  dream 
entirely  refembling  *this,  which  fhe  had  that 
fame  night.  I  never  oUferved  that  thefe-two 
ladies  were  in  the  lead  inclined  to  fuperftition* 
I  was,  therefore,  ftruck  \vith  the  co-incidence 
of  their  dreams,  and  I  had  not  the  lead,  doubt 
in  my  own  mind,  that  they  would  foon  be  re 
alized.  The  opinion  that  truth  is  fometimes 
conveyed  to  us  in  ileep,  is  univerfally  propa 
gated  orer  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  The 
greatefl  men  of  antiquity  have  adopted  it :  a- 
rncng  others,  Alexander,  Caefar,  the  Scipios, 
the  two  Catoes,  and  Brutus,  who  were  none 
of  them  men  of  weak  minds.  The  Old  and 
New  Tefcament  luivc  luvaahed  us  with  many 
inftances  of  dreams  which  were  verified.  For 
nfiy  own  part,  I  have  no  occaiion  for  any  high 
er  proof  en  the  fubjccT:  than  my  ov/n  experi 
ence  ;  and  I  have  found,  mere  than  once, 
:haJ:  dreams  are  fomerhnes  warnings,  which 
give  us  informauon  very  interefting  to  our- 
fclves..  But  if  any  pcrfon  (hall  pretend  to  at 
tack,  or  dc^.nd  by  argument,  things  which 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA:  'IJS 

tranfcend  the  powers  of  human  underftan cl 
ing,  he  undertakes  an  impoffibility.  Howe 
ver,  if,  the  reafcn  of  man  is  only  an  image  of 
that  of  the  almighty  ;  fmce  man  is  capable 
of  convey  ing  his  thoughts  to  the  extremities  of 
the  world  by  fecret  and  concealed  means,  why 
fhould  not  that  Intelligence  which  governs 
the  world,  employ  fimilar  methods  in  accom- 
plifliing  the  fame  purpofe  ?  One  friend  ccn- 
ibles  another  by  a  letter  which  travels  through 
a  multitude  of  kingdoms,  which  circulates 
amidft  the  hatred  of  nations,  and  communi 
cates  joy  and  hope  to  one  fingle  individual  ; 
Why  then  may  not  the  Sovereign  Protector 
of  innocence  come,  by  fome  fecret  means,  to 
the  relief  of  a  virtuous  foul,  which  .repofes 
confidence  in  him  alone  ?  Has  he  occaiion  to 
employ  an  exterior  fign  to  execute  his  will  j 
he,  who  acls  continually,  in  his  all  works,  by 
an  internal  tmpulfe  ? 

Why,  then,  doubt  the  reality  of  dreams  ? 
Life,  rilled  with  fo  many  vain  and  tranikory 
projccls,  what  is  it  but  a  dream  ? 

However  that  mav  be,  thole  of  my  unfor 
tunate  fii-ndu  were  icon  v^ili/ed,  Paul  uit-1 
two  months  after  his  beloved  Virginia,  whole 
name  he  repeated  inceilan-tly.  Margaret  ex 
pired  eight  days  after  her  fon,  with  a  joy  which 
it  is  bellowed  only  on  virtue  to  tafte .  She  took 
moft  tender  farewell  of  Madame  de  la 
Tour,  "  in  the  hope,"  faid  ilie,  "  of  a  fweet 


i?6  PAUL  ANt)  VIRGINIA, 

and  eternal  re-union.  Death  is  the  greateft  of 
bleffings,"  added  ihe  ;  "  it  is  highly  defirable. 
If  life  be  a  puriifhment,  we  ought  to  ^wdfh  for 


its  termination  ;  if  it  be  a  ftate-of  probation* 
we  ought  to  wifh  it  fLortened." 

Government  took  care  of  Domingo  and 
Mary,  who  were  no  longer  in  a  condition  for 
fervice,  and  who  did  not  long  furvive  their 
^  miftrefs.  As  for  poor  Fidele,  he  drooped  to 
death  nearly  about  the  fame  time  with  his 
mailer. 

I  conducted  Madame  de  la  Totir  to  my 
habitation  ;  fhe  fupported  herfelf  in  the  rmdft 
of  loffes  fo  terrible,  with  a  greatoefs  of  foul 
altogether  incredible.  She  adminiftered  con- 
folation  to  Paul  and  Margaret  to  the  ven 
rnoment,  as  if  fhe  had  no  diftrefs  but  their's  to 
iupport.  When  they  were  no  more,  foe  fpoke 
to  me  of  them  every  day,  as  if  they  had  been 
beloved  friends,  itill  in  the  neighbourhood, 
She  furvived  them,  however,  only  a  month, 
As  to  her  aunt,  far  from  reproaching  her  with 
theie  misfortunes,  Hie  prayed  GOD  to  forgive 
her,  and  to  appeafe  the  dreadful  horrors  of 
mind  with  which,  w*  heard,  fhe  had  been  feiz- 
ine  had  difrniiled  Vtr- 


This  unnatural  relation  foon  raet  with  the 
punifliment  due  to  her  cruelty.  I  heard,  by 
the  fucceffive  arrival  of  feveral  veflels,  that 
ihe  was  tormented  by  the  vapours,  which  ren- 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  Z77 

dered  life  and  death  equally  insupportable. 
Sometimes,  ihc  reproached    herielf  with  the 
premature  death  of  her  charming  grand-niece, 
and  with  that  of  her  modie-r,  which  loon  fr.;.~ 
lowed  it.     Sometimes,  ihe  applauded  herfcif 
for  having  discarded  two  unhappy  wretches, 
who  had  difgraced  her  family  by  the  rvrcnn- 
nefs  of  tlieir  inclinations.     Frequently  flylr.g 
into  a  pailion  at  light  of  the  great  number  of 
xniierable  people,  with  -which   Paris  is  filled, 
ihe  exclaimed.:  "  Why  do  they  not  fend  tlieie 
idle  wretches  to  perifa  in  our  colonies  ?"    She 
added,  that  the  ideas  of  virtue,  of  humanity, 
and  of  religion,  adopted  by  all  nations,  were 
nothing  but  the  political  inventions  of  their 
princes.     Then,  iuddenly  plunging  into  the 
oppofite  extreme,  fhe  abandoned  herielf  to  fu* 
perftitious  terrors,  which  filled  her  with  mor 
tal  apprehenfions.     She  ran  about,  carrying 
with  her   vafl  fukns,  which  fhe  beitcwed  on 
the  rich  monks,  who  were  her  ghoitly  direc 
tors,  and  entreated  them  to  appeafe  the  DEI 
TY,  by  the  facrince  of  her  fortune  ;  as  if  that 
wealth,  which  (lie  had  denied  to  the  mikra- 
ble,  could   be  acceptable    to  the   Fa'.hcr  of 
mankind  !     Her  imagination  was  frequently 
haunted  by  deluges  of  fire,  burning  moun 
tains,  or  hideous   fpeclres  wandering   before 
her,  and  calling  her  by  name,  with  horrible 
{creams.       She  threw   herielf  at  the  feet  cf 
b«r  diredors,  and  formed,  in  her  own  niind> 


*?8  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA. 

tortures  and  punifliments  preparing  for  her  ; 
.for  Heaven,  jull  Heaven,  lends  fearful  viiions 
to  harrow  up  ths  fouls  of  the  unmerciful. 

Thus  fhr>,  paifed  feveral  years,  by  turns  an 
atheiil  and  a  devotee,  equally  in  horror  of  life 
and  of  death.     But  what  terminated  an  ex 
igence  fo  deplorable,  was  the  very  thing  to 
\vhich  ihe  had  Sacrificed  the  fentiments  ot  na 
ture.      She  had  the  mortification  to  reflect, 
that  her  riches  would,  after  her  death,  go  to 
relations  whom  Ihe  hated.     In  order  to  pre 
vent    this,    fhe    endeavoured  to  alienate  the 
greateft  part  of  her  fortune  ;  but  tiey  avail 
ing  themfelves  of  the  frequent  paroxyfms  of 
fpleen  to  which  ihe  was  fubjecl,  had  her  ihut 
up  as  a  lunatic,  and  her  eftates  put  in  truft, 
for  her  heirs.    .  Thus,  her  very  riches  put  the 
'finifliing  ftroke  to  her  definition  ;  and  as  they 
had  hardened  the  heart  of  her  who  poile/Ted 
them,  fo  they,  in  like  manner,  extinguifhed 
natural  affection  in  the  breafts  of  thofe  who 
coveted  them.     She  accordingly,  died  |  and, 
v/hat  filled  up  the  meafure  of  her  woe,  with 
P>  mTich  ufe  of  her  reafon  left,  as  to  know  that 
fhe  had  been  plundered  and  defpifed,  by  thoie 
v?rr  ^r-rfons  whofe  opinion  had  directed  her 
all  her  life  long. 

•he  fide  of  Virginia,  and  at  the 'foot  of 

the  fame  bamboos,  her  friend  Paul  was  laid  ; 

aroniid  them,  their  tender  mothers  and  their 

-orvauts.'       No  marble  raifes  itfeif  o- 


PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA.  179 

ver  their  humble  graves ;  no  engraved  ihfcrip* 
tions,  recording  their  virtues  :  but  their  mem 
ory  will  never  be  effaced  from  the  hearts'  of 
thofe,  who  lay  under  obligations  to  them. — - 
Their  ihades  have  no  need  of  that  l.uRrei 
which  they  fhunned  all  their  life-time  ;  but  if 
they  ftill  .intereft  themfelves  in  what  is  paf- 
fmg  on  the  earth,  they,  doubtleis,  delight  in 
wandering  under  the  ftr&w-covered  roofs, 
where  induftrious  virtue  refldes  ;  in  confolmg 
poverty  difcontented  with  its  lot ;  in  encour 
aging,  in  youthful  lovers,  a  Lifting  flame,  a 
relifh  for  the  bleffings  of  nature,  a  love,  of  la 
bor  and  a  dread  of  riches. 

The  voice  of  the  people,  which  is  filent 
refpecting  the  monuments  reared  to  the  glory 
of  kings,  has  beftowed  onfeveral  parts  of  this 
ifland,  names,  which  will  eternalize  the  lofs 
of  Virginia.  You  may  fee,  near  the  Ifle  of 
Amber,  in  the  middle  of  the  ilielves,  a  place 
called,  The  Saint  Gerand's  Pafs,  from  the 
name  of  the  veifel,  which  periihed  there,  in 
returning  from  Europe.  The  extremity  of 
that  long  point  of  land,  which  you  fee  about 
three  leagues  from  hence,  half-covered  with 
the  waves  of  the  lea,  which  the  Saint  Gerand 
could  not  double,  the  evening  of  the  hurri 
cane,  in  order  to  make  the  harbour,  is  nam 
ed,  Cape  Misfortune ;  theve,  juft  before  you, 
at  the  bottom  of  this  valley,  is  Tovib-l 
y/liere  the  body  of  Virginia  was  found,  b<. 


;3o  PAUL  AND  VIRGINIA, 

ed  in  the  fond,  as  if  the  fea  had  intended  to 
bear  her  back  to  her  family,  and  to  render 
the  laft  duties  to  her  modefty,  upon  the  &n:e 
fhorc.s  which  fhe  had  honored  with  her  iniio- 

C'J.H'C. 

Young  prcpl?  fo  tenderly  united  ?  Unfor 
tunate  mothers !  Dearly  beloved  family  1 
The'c  woods,  which  gave  you  fhade,  thefe 
fountains,  which  flowed  for  you,  thefe  rocks,, 
up  en  \\hich  YOU  repoied  together,  ftill  lament 
your  lr>fs.  ,  No  one.  fmce  you,  has  dared  to 
cultivate  this  defofstte  fpot,  nor  rear  again  thefe 
humble  cottages.  Your  goats  have  become 
wild  ;  y<>ur  orchards  are  deftroyed  ;  your 
birds  have  flown  away  ;  nothing  is  now  to  be 
he  a?  d  but  the  cries  of  the  hawk,  flying  around 
the  top  of  this  bafon  of  rocks.  For  :ny  part, 
iince  I  behold  you  no  longer,  T  am  like  a 
friend  ftripped  ot  his  iriends,  like  a  father  who 
has  lo:0:  his  chi.  foe  a  traveller  wander 

ing  along  the  eiirth,  wheie  I  remain  in  gloomy 
iblitride. 

As  he  littered  thefe  words,  the  good   old 

.nv.in   walked   away,    melting  into   tears,  and 

had  flowed,  more  than  once,  curing  this 


; 


